Our schools have tended to focus on the passing along of information, rather than challenging students to grapple with ideas and arrive at their own well-reasoned opinions. Our students can learn information well, but are not always prepared to debate or defend that which they have learned. It is important for any parent who is looking for the best college prep school in Utah County to recognize this issue with students if they are not being exposed to the Socratic Method in their education.

The Socratic Method

This approach has been used by the best thinkers and teachers for centuries. At Maeser Preparatory Academy, we utilize the Socratic Method with all of our subjects for every class, every year. The Socratic Method requires inquiry. Students analyze primary texts and ideas. We challenge students to think from different perspectives. We demand that they defend their conclusions.

Imagine students not just reading the U.S. Constitution, but debating the fundamental principles, debating the intent of the Founders, and debating the relationship between then and now. Imagine discussing Shakespeare and the timeless truths that lie beneath the tragedies. Through the Socratic Method, Maeser students learn to debate and to listen. They learn to recognize logical fallacies. They learn to think carefully and reason correctly. They learn to write clearly. All of this learning occurs as part of the moral training of Maeser students. They learn to be intellectually honest. They learn to have the courage to change their minds. They learn to listen and to debate respectfully. All this prepares them to be virtuous citizens and effective leaders.

At Maeser Preparatory Academy we use the Socratic Method in every class, every day, every week. It is a cornerstone of our classical, close-knit charter school. It is a vital part of who we are as an institution and as a community. Our students learn from each other, learning that it is possible to disagree respectfully and even to learn from disagreeing, that they have a voice and are a valued member of a community. Our students graduate not only prepared academically for the rigors of college, but also prepared to listen, to speak, and to lead well as virtuous citizens and leaders. Real Success: Developing Leaders Who Think and Lead

We have evidence to back this up. We are consistently one of the top high schools in Utah based on our SAT scores of 1330 average and our 95%+ graduation rate. But, most tellingly, our college-educated students tell us time and again that the habits of the mind and heart cultivated by Socratic learning, the habits of thinking, speaking, and writing, are what prepared them best to do college. Our alumni are sought-after by top universities because they know how to do the critical work: to think independently, to read deeply, to question thoughtfully, and to serve.

Discover the Power of Principled Inquiry

If you have been looking for an educational environment where children will not just be taught but will instead learn how to think, speak, and lead as good men and women, then Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy has you in mind. Come, let’s explore the Socratic Method together, and how it shapes the habits of the mind and the heart. Click here to Learn more about Enrollment to experience the Maeser difference now.

Common Questions

1. What is the Socratic Method and how is it used at Maeser? The Socratic Method is a type of collaborative argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions. Teachers employ the Socratic method to facilitate discussions, using questions to ask students how texts should be interpreted, and challenge their assumptions, asking students to give reasons and examples in support of their answers, instead of telling them right answers.
2. Does the Socratic Method replace classroom lecturing? Not entirely. Teachers at Maeser use the Socratic Method as a central pedagogical tool, but also use lectures where helpful to give additional context and necessary background. Students are then engaged in deeper and more thorough discussions about the topic at hand.
3. How does the Socratic Method help prepare my child for college? The Socratic Method provides the ultimate preparation for college since it teaches students skills that every university wants, critical thinking, analysis, argumentation, and communication. The Method forces students to engage more deeply with content they read, to participate more meaningfully in discussion, and to think more critically and independently. It teaches the skills necessary to be a successful college student.
4. Is the Socratic Method taught only in classes where philosophy and theology are discussed? No. In fact, the Socratic Method can and should be used in any classroom, in all disciplines. Our teachers, who work across a unified curriculum, apply the Socratic Method to help their students to inquire deeply into what they read and how it should be interpreted, in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
5. How can you guarantee that all students get involved and participate in Socratic discussions? Because our teachers are small enough to know each student well and because our teachers are skilled and dedicated facilitators of student discussions, we know that each student will be able to participate. Teachers use a variety of techniques and methods to ensure students have opportunities to speak. They set the parameters of the discussion, ask follow-up questions to keep students on task, and ask students to prepare ahead of time by studying. They also encourage students to ask questions of their peers and themselves as they read the text on their own time.