Composing Theories class?

I immediately recognized the name Peter Elbow and David Bartholomae from my Composing Theory class last semester. Opposing viewpoints that are all looking for what I equate with the search for the fountain of youth: It's a worthwhile purpose but is nonexistent.

Bartholomae is promoting the critical writing method while Elbow leans more towards the creative method. That is a very extreme generalization of this conversation and doesn't cover most of the aspects of their disagreement. Suffice it to say that although both have the same leanings, that is a longing to produce properly educated individuals, Elbow feels more inclined to be an advocate for the 'writer' in himself than for the 'academic'. He feels they are at odds with one another although he wants harmony. Both are addressing the problem that is postmodernism. It has been inculcated into educational systems and is now posing problems for the staff as it relates to an appropriate approach to pedagogy.

If postmodernism is 'all that', why then is it collapsing upon itself for the philosophy it is espousing? Was it really worth exploring? Was it worthwhile? Did it help humankind in any shape or form other than to show a failed method of thought?