Historically valuable models of a Socratic education:

Johann Pestalozzi

Practice of rote learning - creation of docile citizens that would grow up and not ask questions when following authority

Teacher would ideally be a maternal figure and Socratic challenger, ban on corporal punishment and emphasized importance of play

Friedrich Frobel 

 

• Founder of kindergarten, gentle encouragement to expand cognitive abilities in a playful and affectionate atmosphere 

• Basis is laid for Socratic techniques

Bronson Alcott

• Follows Socratic method of instruction, inspired by both latter 

• Diverged in emphasizing role of poetry and emotional development 

Horace Mann

• Stood for inclusiveness, liberal education for everyone without cost, free libraries, high standards of teaching across schools for everyone 

• Emphasized understanding instead of routine - basic competence, literacy, and numeracy 

John Dewey

• Goal of mutually respectful democratic citizens 

• Traditional education encourages passivity - needed to make real world contributions and engage in real problems 

• Socratic questioning based in real events where children are able to treat these events as 'points of departure' 

Rabindranath Tagore

• education nourished the ability to think for oneself and to become a dynamic participant in cultural and political choice, rather than simply a follower of tradition 

• Highly unconventional; outside classes, arts-based curriculum, Socratic questioning forefront 

Matthew Lipman

• young children are active, questioning beings whose capacity to probe and inquire ought to be respected and further developed