Classical education relies on teacher-led, structured lectures, with minimal student driven discussion or exercises. Subjects are distinct units that are clearly delineated (e.g., math, English, etc) and taught primarily through textbooks.

In contrast, progressive education positions teachers as facilitators with a focus on student-led discussion, project-based learning, and experiential learning. Learning is organised thematically around a single topic (e.g., environmentalism, space exploration, etc) and can draw on sources such as news articles, fiction books, documentaries, and academic papers from different areas (science, history, etc.).

For the purpose of this debate, secondary schools refer to schools with students from age of 14 to 18.