Richard Grieves' teaching methods are not new. In fact some of them are very old, but that doesn't mean they aren't effective.

Grieves, a language arts and classical literature teacher at South Lyon High School, relies on the Socratic Method to challenge his students, and many of them have responded strongly, making Grieves the Herald's December Teacher of the Month.

Grieves was nominated for the honor by Sandy Santilly, the mother of one of his students, who said Grieves has revolutionized the learning process for her daughter Angela.

"With Angela, he's made her more interested in learning," Sandy Santilly said. "He teaches in a way that excites her. He's wonderful."

Angela is in Grieves' classical literature course, which examines the historical and philosophical importance of great works like Homer's "Iliad," Virgil's "Aeneid" and Dante's "Divine Comedy."

Grieves has been fascinated by philosophy and the classics throughout his academic career. His knowledge of Latin helped him found the school's Latin Club, which meets after school.

By using the probing methods of Socrates, Grieves said he tries to highlight for students the brilliance of the classics and their philosophical wisdom. Needless to say, students must be prepared to work hard if they hope to keep up with the complex works.

"Students enjoy not having things watered down, " he said. "They enjoy the engagement of being asked what they think. They thank me for not having any fluff."

Grieves said that many of the students who sign up to take his classics course — an upper level elective — do so for the challenge involved. But even in his other courses, some of which are compulsory, Grieves said he does not back down from engaging his students.

Opinions and debate are encouraged in a true classical fashion, but Grieves' students had better be prepared to back up their opinions with facts.

"My constant comment to (students) is this: I refuse to lower my expectations," Grieves said. "But I will help you build a ladder to the highest level. It's up to you to climb it."

Grieves has been an educator for 25 years. He taught in private schools for a number of years before landing in South Lyon. And in spite of his old-fashioned techniques, he said he's open to new ways to educate students and to appeal to their interests.

For example, a pair of aspiring artists in his classical literature course are constructing an ancient map of the Mediterranean basin on the wall in Grieves' classroom to build their portfolios, highlighting the journeys of Aeneas in Virgil's work. Next, they'll map out the travels of the Greeks as laid out in the Iliad.

Grieves said he's always encouraged when students jump so eagerly into the great works.

"I'm always looking for whatever ways I can to challenge them," he said.