The Future of Progressive Education

Overview & Synopsis

What David J. Ferrero has called "the Hundred Year's War between "progressives" and "traditionalists"" continues unabated in the twenty-first century. Undoubtedly, current initiatives in public education favor those who support traditional approaches, yet many critics believe inflexible state tests are restricting teachers' flexibility in employing methods other than teacher-centered direct instruction. President Bush's proposal for extending mandatory testing beyond grade eight into high school and renewed discussions about establishing national curricular standards and tests are threatening to prevent schools and teachers from using progressive education theory and methods. While its easy for progressives to become discouraged, it is still premature to declare the final decline of progressive education in the United States. In this article, the author reviews the current state of progressive education and predicts how politics will affect its future.