Trapped by inflexible mechanisms, many institutions are unable to adapt smoothly to the changing expectations and needs of their clients. Our educational system is particularly out-of-sync. Student-centered teaching--participative education--through unstructuring is one method for encouraging a flexible, creative, classroom environment. However, as this article points out, grades as the criteria for success, the learned need for predictability, the tendency to reward conformity, and inexperience in group decision-making techniques have hindered the development of student-centered learning. [For the commentary on this article, "Trapped by Inflexible Mechanisms. Commentary on Martell, C. (1972). Age of Creative Insecurity: Student-Centered Learning," see EJ1073580. This article was originally published in the "Journal of Education for Librarianship." ]