The three centers of traditional education schools are classroom center, textbook center and teacher center, while the three centers of modern education schools are children center (student center), activity center and experience center. Herbart, a German educator, advocates the traditional teacher-centered education model and puts forward three centers of traditional pedagogy: teachers, books and classrooms.

Dewey, an American educator, advocated that education should be centered on children and put forward the "new three-centered theory" of "children", "activities" and "experience". He believes that the traditional school curriculum is subject-centered, without considering children's interests and needs, and the division of disciplines is too detailed and divorced from the reality of life.

The difference between traditional education and modern education;

First, educational purposes are different. Herbart thinks that education is to prepare children for their future life, while Dewey puts forward the theory of education without purpose. He believes that "education is growth; There is no other purpose outside itself. "

Second, the status of teachers and students is different. Herbart proposed that teachers should be the center and students should be in a passive position in the process of education, while Dewey believed that education should be child-centered and respect children's nature.

Third, the curriculum is different. Herbart emphasizes learning systematic knowledge and ignores children's life experience; Dewey put forward the curriculum theory of "learning by doing" and learning from experience.