Maeser incorporated the Monitorial System into his teaching philosophies and believed that students should each have responsibilities.

Maeser was influenced by Pestalozzian educational theory, but also advocated that schools should include religion.

[3]: 11–12  However, Maeser chose to study at Friedrichstadt Schullehrerseminar in Dresden, a school to train prospective teachers.

[6] In December 1848, Maeser was required to enlist in the military for a two-year assignment; however, he was declared "unfit."

[3]: 40  On June 11, 1854, Maeser married Anna Mieth, the daughter of the director of the First District school in Dresden.

[3]: 438 While teaching at the Budich Institute, Maeser came across Die Mormonen, an anti-Mormon book, by Moritz Busch.

[3]: 84  He and Edward Schoenfield, Maeser's brother-in-law and fellow teacher, decided to investigate the beliefs and practices of the LDS Church.

[3]: 109  He and his family were forced to leave Germany by the Dresden police in July 1856, and would eventually travel to Salt Lake City, where Latter-day Saints were gathering.

[3]: 125 [5]: 88 After being exiled from Germany, the Maesers went to London in June 1856,[4] where they were welcomed by members of the LDS Church.

After living there a few weeks, Maeser was called to serve as a missionary by the LDS Church to the German-speaking community of Philadelphia.

[3]: 165–166  Maeser spent some time in Virginia as part of his mission, where he earned keep for himself and his family by giving music lessons.

[3]: 178  Maeser and his family left Philadelphia in June 1860 and traveled across the country to Salt Lake City in Patriarch John Smith's company.

[3]: 469 Maeser accepted his first teaching position in the First District School in Dresden from 1852 to 1853,[3]: 47  and he taught at the Budich Institute beginning in 1854.

The teachers at the Lyceum constructed school slates and performed janitor duties because conditions were so poor.

[5]: 89–90  When students' families could not afford to pay tuition, Maeser often collected payments of produce via wheelbarrow.

[3]: 438 In the spring of 1861, Maeser left the Lyceum and was offered a position at the Union Academy, established by Brigham Young.

[13] In 1875, Brigham Young Academy in Provo, Utah, was founded to combine secular and religious teachings.

[3]: 361–362  The Academy followed advice from Joseph Smith: to teach correct principles and to let students govern themselves.

Maeser wrote up reports at the end of each term and sent them directly to the general authorities of the church in Salt Lake outlining lesson plans and classes.

The Academic Department offered a wide variety of classes and allowed a student to specialize in one field, and the Normal School trained teachers.

He made his students feel the worth of life; he told us that the Lord had sent each of us to do a special work, and that the proper preparation was necessary for that mission.

[23] He also inspired his family members; one of his sons, Karl Emil, studied under Maeser and went on to be a respected educator and school president.

[24] Maeser retired from Brigham Young Academy in 1892 to devote his time to his position as the Superintendent of Church Schools.

[32] Maeser's primary responsibility was to head the Utah exhibit at the Mid-winter Fair in San Francisco in 1894,[32] while he was serving as Superintendent of Church Schools.

[32] No one was baptized into the church while Maeser was president of the mission; however, he did help create friendlier public-relations between Utah and California.

[3]: 227–230 Maeser included the Monitorial System from Andrew Bell and Joseph Lancaster in his teacher training courses.

[3]: 607  His ideas on educational philosophy, the honor system, and incorporation of religious classes continue to be implemented at Brigham Young University,[35][3]: 1089–1091  where the Maeser Building is named after him.

It is the hope of both cities that the relationship will grow to include the exchange of delegations, including manufacturers, youth, academicians, scientists, artists, associations, clubs, tourists, technicians and others, which will result in enriching the cultures of the respective cities.

As of 2001, the two cities have been sending high school age students on a three-week-long exchange to gain more knowledge about their differences in society and culture.

[38] A public charter high school named Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy was established in Lindon, Utah, in 2007.