— Teaching Socratically —

A distinct component of the Classical Christian model of education is an emphasis on teaching by using the Socratic method of instruction. At an age-appropriate level, this method of education requires the students, through the teacher’s skilled questioning, to engage consistently in the process of coming to answers on their own rather than being given the answer by the teacher. 

Such instruction, even beginning in Kindergarten and younger (see Early Training), establishes a template whereby the student is learning to engage new and unknown material on his or her own. Therefore, using every student’s innate desire to learn and his or her ability to reason even at the youngest age (can your 4-year-old argue with sound reasoning?), this powerful teaching method engages children’s hearts, souls and minds toward a purposeful end.

Socratic questioning can look at goals and purposes, can probe into the nature of a question, problem or issue, can inquire into whether or not there is relevant data and information, can consider alternative interpretations of data and information, can analyze key concepts and ideas, can question assumptions, can consider implications and consequences, and can consider alternative points of view and more. Socratic questioning trains students in the discipline of sound inquiry, and the results are impressive.