Placeholder Image 2

The Renaissance Project

As an outcome of research and studies by Dr. Win Wenger of Maryland , the Renaissance Project was developed to bring the true meaning of “education” back to its roots. Hence, the creation of the Modern Socratic Method is born. These include a number of styles and techniques which allow children to learn as opposed to being taught or instructed. St. Andrew’s is fortunate to have received a grant from the M&T Bank to help fund this project. Dr. Wenger has also agreed to work with our teachers to incorporate the Modern Socratic Method with our students. Allow me to explain.
There have been two times in the recorded history of man that civilization has produced an inordinate amount of bona fide geniuses; Critical Thinkers who had a major impact on civilization. That was during the Golden Age of Greece and the Renaissance. This was neither accident nor coincidence. Both events can be directly attributed to the Socratic Method. The basic belief at those times was that all knowledge already existed in the mind of the individual and it needed to be drawn out. From this concept, the word education is derived from the Latin, “educare” meaning to draw out or draw from.
The concept of public education changed all that and a Prussian style of pedagogy was adopted to address masses of children. This style has remained the predominant style in education today because it is efficient and cost effective. Current educators recognize its flaws and drawbacks and have attempted to infuse some basic elements of Socratic Teaching into various parts of the curriculum. It is piecemeal at best and often the first thing abandoned in tight budgets because it is “ not required”.
What if you could educate children using the Socratic Method and still make it cost effective? What if EVERY teacher applied these techniques and strategies in EVERY subject, in EVERY class with EVERY student? Would that not be a great place to send your child to reach their fullest potential?

Teachers are now engaged in implementing these techniques that only until recently were reserved for the few. Critical thinking, creative thinking, buzzing, wind tunneling and many more are now staples of education at our school. I invite everyone to log onto www.winwenger.com. For much more information than I can share here. We can honestly say that at St. Andrew’s, we don’t teach children; We EDUCATE children.

Results and Analysis

2007-08