Many parents and students wonder in a day and age characterized by lecturing and test-taking, will we be developing deep, true understanding, intellectual virtue, and knowledge, or are we only teaching students facts they can only recite a short time after memorizing them? It is a big struggle for parents to find learning that actively engages the students instead of being lectured. Without the knowledge of how to think and debate respectfully, students who may be incredibly intelligent do not know how to communicate or express themselves well, how to debate others in the face of oppositional views or to have the intellectual and moral courage it takes to be an effective leader and citizen.
Beyond Rote: The Socratic Method at the Heart of Classical Education
At Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy we think of the educational process as one of active pursuit of Truth, Honor and Virtue, with Truth being an objective reality that one is either seeking after or not. Part of our classical liberal arts education is the Socratic method. A classical liberal arts education in Utah, one the families in the State trust most for their children’s education and the one Maeser is known for, has always been about teaching not just facts, but knowledge. It’s not only about learning how to learn, but learning about Truth and developing discernment. Inspired by Karl G. Maeser, we teach our students how to think and learn for themselves by empowering them in their own minds to use their intellectual powers. With our integrated and interwoven curriculum we teach about the primary sources and the Great Books, so students themselves experience and grapple with the Great Books of Western Civilization and all the timeless questions that come up and have been asked throughout the history of the world that the books ask them themselves, instead of teachers just telling students what they should think.
And the Socratic method brings that all together through dialogue and debate, teaching intellectual humility and how to be able to argue against opposing views or just have an intelligent, in depth conversation with people of opposing views, to learn more about what you think and to seek out truth more deeply and be more discerning about it and more intelligent about it.
Students and the Maeser Socratic Seminar: Talking, Learning, and Deeply Connecting
Students are in circles and the teacher is not talking; instead the students themselves are talking through a Socratic seminar at Maeser. The Socratic seminar helps students learn how to listen well and how to think, to think with language and speak well in front of others how to support what they say. Through our small class size at Maeser every single student can speak up in a Maeser Socratic seminar, so they learn to speak and debate well with their peers, and learn about themselves by being able to have these conversations and these debates, and how to speak well and articulate their thoughts well, but also to support what they say by looking at the text and supporting what they’re saying with quotes.
With the class size being small, the teachers here at Maeser know their students well as to be able to help them guide them through that, but also through asking questions, how they can lead these students into the discussions, how to get them to be thinking and to be able to ask questions in order for the students themselves to learn from what they themselves have learned, and it gives them that discipline to learn how to talk and to learn how to listen well to others to think with the way others think and understand their points, and to debate respectfully with them, but also how to stand firm for what you think you know or believe is true if you believe it’s true in the way the text shows it to you, because the Socratic seminars here are about learning to think and learning to learn through dialogue and how to learn to have a conversation, but also how to debate well.
Through all of this, it gives them the discipline they need to have to really know how to speak up and express what they themselves think and know, and to debate respectfully, so that way in life and for college it’s a very good skill to have. It also teaches them patience, empathy and intellectual courage in order to grow the way they need to in order to grow into being the virtuous individuals and people who are able to make good decisions in their life and have the capacity for the right intellectual and moral courage. It brings the community together as a community, to be able to think through all the conversations and debates and discussions and to learn more about themselves in the process as they learn how to listen and think well together. These expectations for respectful discussion strengthen our Honor Code in which students can learn with the trust that the intellectual honesty and integrity of their peers is upheld. This is a vital piece of our virtue based education Utah.
Academic Achievement through Intellectual Exchange
The intellectual rigor that the Socratic method demands leads directly to strong academic achievement. Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy is ranked #1 charter high school in Utah by U.S. News & World Report. Our students earn an average SAT score of 1330 and graduate from Maeser at a rate of 95%+. The educational approach at Maeser does not teach students to memorize facts; it teaches them to think and speak. It is a powerful way of educating them for the next academic stage: college and beyond. Our students are well trained not just in knowledge, but in the intellectual and ethical virtues required to do well at anything they do and to be responsible, virtuous citizens.
The Maeser Socratic method
Come find out how Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy uses the Socratic method to develop students who can think deeply and act virtuously as they take their place in the world. More About Enrolling, Maeser Difference
FAQs: The Socratic method at Maeser
What is the Socratic method? The Socratic method involves a dialogic, cooperative discussion with students taking the lead, working with primary texts and responding to the Socratic questions from teacher and classmates. The goal of Socratic dialogue is to stimulate critical thinking and bring up different perspectives.
Why is Socratic Dialogue so important for character development? Students are learning to listen deeply and respectfully to those with opposing views, seeking to understand and evaluate the ideas and opinions of others. Students are also gaining the confidence to respectfully challenge others, and to stand up for the things they believe. This is how truth is best obtained.
Is the Socratic method taught in all subjects? While the Socratic method is best suited for humanities classes, the principles of inquiry and discussion can be applied to any subject to deepen understanding.
How do you help students who are shy to discuss in class? We teach small classes and are known for great teachers who support and challenge students. We help them build a strong foundation of confidence. We have classes that help them prepare for the discussions, they do not have to jump straight into the seminar. Students are given time to read and write before they participate in discussions. It is also important to be a good listener and Maeser emphasizes this as a vital component of a good discussion. We believe everyone has the ability to find their voice and make meaningful contributions in a Socratic seminar.
How does this classical style learning prepare students for a modern career? Classical, virtue based education that teaches the intellectual habits of reading, thinking, writing, speaking, and reasoning is exactly what the world needs to lead us into the future. By developing critical thinking, speaking, and debating skills, students are better equipped to be leaders and to navigate complex challenges.