In a rapidly changing context, US institutions of higher education are struggling amidst myriad pressures related, for example, to funding, accountability, standardisation and technology. In particular, pressures on ‘progressive’ or non-traditional colleges are immense. These schools, which have historically emphasised individualised, student-centred pedagogy, access and diversity, experimentation and a commitment to social justice, are in danger of losing their distinctive vision as the challenges they face have undermined their practices and thrown into question their identity, if not their survival. This essay argues, first, that if progressive institutions are to sustain their distinctive approach, they must not succumb to demands that drive them towards the conventional, but rather must use these challenges to renew their practice; second, that they must examine creative tensions, the perennial questions that reflect a generative interplay between competing values; and, third, that they must remain mindful of the principles undergirding their progressive vision. Mining these tensions as opportunities for grappling with the pressures at hand, the essay provides examples of possibilities for progressive change. Instead of slipping into the conventional or succumbing to despair, the essay shows that we can respond creatively to the challenges all higher education and especially progressive institutions face today.

中文翻译：

---

渐进式高等教育中的创作张力

在瞬息万变的背景下，美国高等教育机构在与资金，问责制，标准化和技术等相关的众多压力中挣扎。特别是，对“进步”或非传统大学的压力是巨大的。这些学校历史上一直强调个性化，以学生为中心的教学法，获取和多样化，实验以及对社会正义的承诺，但由于面临的挑战破坏了他们的实践并对其身份提出质疑，这些学校有可能丧失其独特的视野，如果不是他们的生存。本文认为，首先，如果进步的制度要维持其独特的方法，它们就不能屈服于促使他们走向传统的要求，而必须利用这些挑战来更新其实践。第二，他们必须研究创造性的张力，这些长期存在的问题反映出相互竞争的价值观之间产生了相互影响；第三，他们必须牢记其进步远见的基本原则。挖掘这些紧张局势作为应对眼前压力的机会，本文提供了逐步变革的可能性的例子。这篇文章表明，我们可以创造性地应对所有高等教育，尤其是进步型机构今天所面临的挑战，而不是陷入传统或屈服于绝望。挖掘这些紧张局势作为应对眼前压力的机会，本文提供了逐步变革的可能性的例子。这篇文章表明，我们可以创造性地应对所有高等教育，尤其是进步型机构今天所面临的挑战，而不是陷入传统或屈服于绝望。挖掘这些紧张局势作为应对眼前压力的机会，本文提供了逐步变革的可能性的例子。这篇文章表明，我们可以创造性地应对所有高等教育，尤其是进步型机构今天所面临的挑战，而不是陷入传统或屈服于绝望。