The only escape, Socrates proposed, is to acknowledge "that we already know what we need to know." (Kemerling, 2002, "Plato: Immortality and the Forms-Doctrine of Recollection," Philosophy Pages) .

             How does this philosophy define the roles of teacher?.

             From the "Meno" cited above, it might seem that Socrates saw himself primarily as a questioner and a facilitator of the recollection innate gifts. "The dialogue form was probably invented by Plato" to portray the Socratic method, otherwise known as the dialectic." (Huffman, 2005) The method known as the Socratic method of teaching, still practiced in many schools (particularly law schools) today, "consisted of asking questions like 'What is courage?" of people who were confident of the answer. Socrates, claiming ignorance of the answers to the questions, would gradually show the people's beliefs to be contradictory. Socrates did not answer his questions, though much could be learned from the course of the discussion." (Huffman, 2005).

             How will this philosophy guide the learning expectations in a classroom?.

             Using questions places the teacher in some authority, as the teacher directs the discussion through involved questioning. However, it also demands a great deal of preparedness and attentiveness on the part of the student, combined with a willingness to question what the student"s society may deem to be common sense. Students of innately high ability are supposed to continually excel, to justify the teacher"s expectations of the student's gifts. Ultimately, this questioning of common sense doctrine resulted in the condemnation of Socrates for corrupting the youth of Athens and of questioning the piety of the Greek gods. (Huffman, 2005).

             How will this philosophy exemplify the high standards of teaching?.

             On one hand, the Socratic dialectic may seem to be an equalizing form of philosophy.