To "divide and conquer" can be both a positive and negative strategy.
To "divide and conquer" when you have many to teach and a number of qualified educators can be very positive as the strategy may provide students with more targeted and tailored support.
To "divide and conquer" so that one team doesn't know what another team is doing or talking about, however, can be a negative strategy as it can serve to weaken solidarity, a sense of team, and collaborative effort.
To "divide and conquer" comes in handy when cleaning the house and getting ready for a party. You do this and I'll do that means that lots of jobs get done.
To "divide and conquer" in order to give some one privilege and not to give others the same privilege creates a troubling culture of "haves and have-nots."
It's never perfect, and it's most likely that every strategy can be used in positive and not so positive ways. When you use "divide and conquer" positively that's great, but there may be times when you want to reconsider the use of this popular strategy in order to create more ethical, positive, and promising communities and culture.
