The Great Debate

Abstract

This paper identifies two principal sources of conflict and analyzes the Great Debate that began in the 19th century and continues today. The Great Debate is a battle over opposing points of view in regard to schooling and has often been referred to as traditional versus progressive. Leaders must find a balance between the two, knowing when a traditional approach works well and when a more progressive approach is needed. Leaders in education are certain to encounter conflict because choices will be made that are in opposition to others.

The Perpetual Great Debate In our society, educational leaders can expect to experience two principle sources of conflict in which there are (a) differences of understanding

In delivery and skill practice, lectures and worksheets accompany drill and memorization. Leaders are sources of authority, while parents are uninvolved outsiders. Students engaged in progressive education are active participants in a classroom where the teacher facilitates learning. Parents set goals, create plans, and serve as the primary teacher of the child. Instructional practices include team learning related to inquiry, knowledge constructed through experiences, and individualized instruction (Peters,

The progressive education philosophy supports the idea that we should teach children how to become critical thinkers. Learning by doing enhances experiences for learners. Collaborative environments encourage teamwork, creativity, and innovation. As the world changes, our needs change. When students are actively engaged in critical thinking, with a group or independently, they are equipped with strategies to attack new challenges. Teachers are facilitators of learning and may be found sitting at round tables guiding student discussions as opposed to delivering a lecture at a podium the entire period. As a leader, I would apply knowledge about behavior, organizational context, and interactions to professional practice to affect change (Owens & Valesky, 2015, p. 67). I realize there are incidences where traditional approaches may work better than progressive approaches. I am willing to use traditional approaches as long as they are research-based and will be beneficial to students and teachers. Although the Great Debate continues into the 21st Century, I plan to face the future optimistically. Challenges can become opportunities for growth and improvement for all stakeholders in an ever-changing