A Timeless Dialogue Over Rote Learning
Imagine a school where the central focus is not on memorization but on a timeless conversation with the most influential minds in history? With all the noise of fleeting news and shallow online reading, it is easy to understand why many parents want something more than the typical educational experience. They desire an atmosphere where their children are given the tools to become good thinkers, morally capable and curious individuals who have a true love of learning.
Beyond Textbooks: The Maeser Academy Approach to Truth
At Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, a top-rated classical charter school in Utah, we believe the foundation of deep thinking and moral reasoning comes from reading the Great Books and primary sources in all their richness and fullness. As the namesake Karl G. Maeser said, “Education should awaken the power within to do good.” Because of this commitment to the Great Books, we stand out among Utah County prep schools by creating an environment where students are exposed to the original thoughts of the greatest thinkers, scientists, philosophers, and artists of history. Through our unique curriculum, our students become participants in a long dialogue of ideas that spans thousands of years.
The Great Books: Building Character
At Maeser Academy, our students don’t merely read a summary of Plato’s Republic or Shakespeare’s tragedies; they read Plato’s Republic and Shakespeare’s tragedies. They don’t merely study the history of Western civilization; they study history itself. And they don’t just read about Socrates, Aristotle, or Aquinas; they have conversations with these men themselves through the Great Books curriculum.
Through these conversations, using the Socratic Method of questioning, our students learn to formulate complex ideas, analyze them, and articulate them to others. Through this process they learn to ask good questions, distinguish truth from lies, and construct well-reasoned responses. This is the basis of a virtue based education in Utah, where the students are required to be humble, patient, and brave. They are also trained in a holistic curriculum of Great Books in history, literature, philosophy, and math, allowing them to see the connections between knowledge. In this way they see the whole of history unfold before them. Our tight knit community has the added bonus of students discussing these concepts with their peers, which creates a collaborative and respectful learning experience.
The results of this Great Books approach have been extraordinary. The Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy has been ranked the #1 high school in Utah by U.S. News and World Report and our average SAT score is 1330 with a 95% graduation rate. Our graduates leave us academically prepared to succeed at the nation’s finest universities, but more importantly, they leave us as morally capable individuals, virtuous citizens and life-long learners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are “Great Books” and “primary sources”? The “Great Books” are the original historical documents or literary works written by the people who lived at the time that is being studied. The Great Books curriculum is a method of learning by reading the original thoughts of the greatest thinkers, scientists, philosophers, and artists of history through the Great Books of the Western tradition which have shaped history.
How does reading old books help students to be successful in modern times? Great Books students learn to think critically, analyze arguments, and communicate well which are highly valuable skills in any field. The Great Books curriculum teaches students to ask questions, think clearly, and to understand the ideas of others.
Is the Great Books curriculum only Western civilization? Although the core curriculum studies Great Books of the Western tradition, we also include works of other civilizations to provide a broader study of the ideas of humanity.
How is the Socratic Method used in this approach? The Socratic Method of questioning is the basis of our Great Books classes where teachers and students discuss the Great Books. In this seminar, students learn how to ask the right questions and analyze the works, how to articulate their own thoughts and ideas, challenge the views of others, and discover the connections between ideas.
Learn more about the best school near me to cultivate your child’s intellectual, moral, and academic growth through a Great Books curriculum that includes the power of primary sources. Learn More About Enrollment.