What is great education? Is it simply a matter of students having to learn lots of facts, or is there a bigger picture? At Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, the ultimate goal of education is to awaken the power within to think clearly, act judiciously, and behave nobly. This vision is at the center of our classical liberal arts approach, and the Socratic Method plays a large part.

The Problem: Helping students truly understand and practice virtue

Today, it is easy to teach information without students ever truly understanding or even questioning it. It is also common to teach students information in order to be tested on it, not in order to learn how to reason, debate, or discern the truth for themselves. As a result, today’s students are often taught to memorize, but not to think critically, debate respectfully, or use the lessons of the past to solve the problems of the present. In short, students can be taught about facts without ever being taught anything of substance.

The Solution: The Socratic Method in a Virtue-Based Education

At Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, our leading classical charter school Utah, the goal is to help students discover how to truly think, argue, and learn. This process is driven primarily by the Socratic Method, a pedagogical technique that turns a classroom into a space for deep discovery. This goes far beyond simple classroom discussion: instead, this guided inquiry allows teachers, acting as questioners, to pose thought-provoking questions that require students to examine primary sources, defend their analysis, and participate in active conversation about the Great Books. In addition to being a key component in our classical charter school Utah, this technique is fundamental to our virtue based education Utah in that it prepares students not merely to be educated, but to also be wise.

The Socratic Method was the most effective way to ensure that our vision of great education is met in a meaningful, long-lasting way. As Karl G. Maeser put it, the purpose of great education is to awaken the power within to do good. With its emphasis on seeking the truth with intellectual honesty, thinking clearly and with precision, and expressing oneself logically and persuasively, the Socratic Method allows our students to live out Truth, Honor, and Virtue in their own lives in a way that goes far beyond the simple acceptance of the concept. In the Socratic Method, the student is not a passive audience member learning by osmosis, but an active participant learning by discovery and experience.

In a Socratic Seminar, students examine a primary source, a historical document, a piece of great literature, a work of philosophy, and then engage in open conversation about the meaning and significance of that text. They practice listening, expressing themselves clearly and logically, defending their ideas, and asking challenging questions, a way that is applicable to nearly any aspect of a classical education. It helps students develop the ability to debate, reason, and think critically as they learn to use primary texts to explore and apply philosophical ideas.

In this way, the Socratic Method isn’t just about learning from a specific book or text; it’s a part of the classroom dynamic in every course, from Latin to science and even math. The goal of a Socratic classroom is to help students think critically as they question the truth behind a text, asking, “Why do we say it is so? How do we know it is so?” The Socratic Method gives our students practice in this process, so that as they learn other concepts in our school and during our Winterim program, which is an immersive experiential learning program, or Capstone projects, they are able to apply the principles they have learned in a wider context. This makes us the premier college prep school in Utah County. See What Great Results You’ll See: Critical Thinking, Character, and College Admissions

Our Socratic, classical education has produced amazing results. Our school, Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, is one of the best high schools in the nation. The U.S. News & World Report ranks us #1 in Utah. Our students average a 1330 on the SATs, our graduation rate is 95%+, and they go to great universities all over the country with big scholarships, ready not only with degrees, but with critical thinking, wisdom, and strength of character.

Some Questions & Answers About the Socratic Method

1. What is the Socratic Method? The Socratic Method at Maeser Prep is a cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions. Students engage with their texts with the help of their teachers who ask probing questions that lead to analysis, synthesis, and deeper understanding.
2. How is a Socratic discussion different from discussion in my classroom? A Socratic seminar is more structured than your average classroom discussion. In general, the purpose is the deep exploration of a text or complex idea through questioning, not an open discussion.
3. How does the Socratic Method prepare students for college? The Socratic Method is the best method for preparing students for college. It develops the sophisticated analytical and communication skills needed for success in higher education and the professional world. It is also a great way to learn how to listen to others, express oneself clearly, and be able to ask good questions about one’s own ideas.
4. Is the Socratic Method only used in the humanities classes? While it often gets used in literature and philosophy classes, the methods of deep analysis and critical thinking are used throughout a Maeser Prep education. It helps students think critically about math, science and history.
5. How do students adjust to the Socratic method? Teachers introduce the new students to the method with patience and support. Students are learning how to think deeply, and their teachers guide them as they make this shift from passive learners to active, deep thinkers. Students are told this is not just about getting “the right answer,” it’s about asking great questions and really understanding something. Once you have the habit of asking questions, it can’t be lost once and for all!

Open House

Come see the transformative power of the Socratic method and virtue-based education in action. Come to Open House and see our classrooms and talk to our teachers to see what makes Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy so special.