HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

David Maxham explores the role of Mathematics in a Liberal Arts education. Contrary to popular perception, the Liberal Arts include a robust commitment not only to mathematics, but to a mathematical way of thinking. We don't achieve this for our students, however, simply by slogging through the usual progression of math courses. The mathematical art of liberty must be nurtured, and Dave offers som...

For Part 1, click here . As boys grow into men they grapple with important questions: "who am I?"; "why am I here?"; "what is my purpose?" Mr. de Vicente takes on the question of persona and identity in the next two episodes of HeightsCast, addressing how we, as parents and teachers, can help our boys develop a healthy sense of self through an ordered process of reflection.

As boys grow into men they grapple with important questions: "who am I?"; "why am I here?"; "what is my purpose?" Mr. de Vicente takes on the question of persona and identity in the next two episodes of HeightsCast, addressing how we, as parents and teachers, can help our boys develop a healthy sense of self through an ordered process of reflection.

What is "tragedy"? Actually, it's not a bad thing happening to a good person. But what, then, is it? Join Dr. Yaceczko and Mr. Mehigan for a conversation about how this ancient art form was used thousands of years ago to prepare generations of heroes for life's difficult moments. At The Heights, we continue this tradition. Listen in to hear why.

As teachers, we sometimes succumb to the desire to be liked, or to the fear of being disliked, by our students. This disposition can cost our students one of the greatest benefits an education can offer: being called out for a consistent character flaw. If we don't call these things to our boys' attention, their dominant flaws may go unchecked, only to hurt them more in the long run. Joe Cardenas,...

Does your son know that you believe in him? Andy Reed on the power of optimism.

Heights boys enjoy three recesses daily in the Lower School. It's not just a chance to stretch their legs. To the contrary, recess is viewed as a class here. Our boys learn toughness, prudence, and how to evaluate risks. Listen in to learn more about the benefits of unstructured free play, and how you can bring this practice to your home or school... ideally both, because what we do at home affect...

In this episode, Rich encourages 8th grade boys and their parents to think differently and bigger about the High School decision. "Differently" because primary educators should be the primary decision makers. "Bigger" because boys should not ask "what's in it for me?" when choosing a school; rather, they should ask "where can I best prepare to give?" The high school decision matters–it's a choice...

Bad news is all around us. It always has been. It always will be. As if personal and family challenges weren't enough, we have an attention economy that seems dead set on giving a generation of young people chronic anxiety about seemingly cataclysmic events. How can we prepare our children to handle bad news? Quite simply, by handling it well ourselves, remaining saintly and cool under fire. How d...

This week on HeightsCast we feature Sarah Mackenzie, an author and mother who is leading a movement to bring reading aloud back into our homes. When was the last time you read aloud to your children? Many of us really lost steam when our boys started reading to themselves. As Sarah explains in The Read Aloud Family, reading aloud has both academic and formational benefits for children of all ages....

Heights students are given the freedom to choose their outfits, so long as they adhere to the dress code. What are the virtues that our boys can build by dressing well, and how can we as teachers bring that growth about, one half-widsor and tucked in shirt at at time? Listen in to hear Mr. Joel Sellier address all of these questions in this episode of HeightsCast.

Headmaster, Alvaro de Vicente addresses freedom and smart phones. These devices can be incredible tools, but only if used with a proper sense of self-mastery. Is there an age when boys are ready? No hard and fast answers to that question, but our headmaster is able to offer some helpful factors to consider.

Last episode we addressed the importance of properly and prudently handling wildlife. Once your boy has the prudence and courage needed to fully experience the wild, a nature journal is a great next step for our budding naturalists. Join Mr. Eric Heil for a conversation about how to keep a nature journal. Of course, this is only an introduction to what is covered in more detail  here .   Happy jou...

We've all been there. A boy in your care looks earnestly into your eyes, rabid with excitement; he's found a critter and he wants to catch it. What do you do? Eric Heil, Lower School Natural History teacher, offers his thoughts on how to guide our sons to both handle and appreciate the creatures they encounter in the wild.

We are a liberal arts school, but we embrace contemporary literature that leads our students to the good, the true, and the beautiful. Not all of it does, though. And, even those moderns that are positively formational often accomplish by leaning, in some way, on the older great authors of the older great books. Contrary to the notion that we are hiding great moderns from our students, we are, ins...

Arthur Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute, joins us for a conversation about college that will benefit students, parents, and teachers. He challenges the assumption that every prep school grad should attend college right away at any cost, and he offers fantastic insights about the entire college experience–from college choice, to choice of majors, to engagement with students an...

Our students and sons start learning the moment they set foot on campus. Every time we greet a boy in the hallway, we are teaching him. Every time we are late to class, we are teaching him. Tone is a powerful teacher, and Alvaro de Vicente shares his thoughts on how to foster a positive tone, both at school and at home. Your students will forget 90% of what you teach them, but will likely recall 9...

Tom Longano spends an episode unpacking his recent webinar on how to anchor summer reading in leisure. Can a 3rd grader actually achieve this? Yes. How? Listen in. You might pick up a tip or two for your own reading as well. Don't just make your son read to "get it done"; nurture his desire to read for living! Happy summer, and if you'd like to view the webinar, click here .

American boys are failing to keep pace with their mathematical peers internationally. Our test scores aside–and we are skeptical of attempts at standardized measurement–there is the deeper problem of many boys hating math and failing to learn the skills they need for professional success, and the habits of mind needed to fully appreciate reality. Heights math teacher, Dave Maxham explores the caus...

Heights teacher, Joe Breslin, discusses the problems with the contemporary approach to writing, and offers his strategy for raising craftsmen of letters.  By turning your classroom into a workshop, you can engage your boys and train them in the arts of observation and effective communication.

Lower School Head Colin Gleason continues a discussion with Tom Cox and Austin Hatch on Prudence, as presented by Josef Pieper. Often we understand this virtue as nothing more than a cunning tactic, when in reality, prudence is far more. The virtue encompasses a capacity for silence, a understanding of reality, and an ability to make right decisions. Prudence is a virtue for the magnanimous. Liste...

Find out why Dr. Mehan believes that "a healthy politics requires a healthy poetics." He discusses the importance of poetry in the formation of leaders. It's not all fun and games, at The Heights, when our boys are memorizing. They are both memorizing and readying themselves for prudential statesmanship. Dr. Mehan pulls it all together for us, and offers an introduction to his forthcoming children...

Lower School Head Colin Gleason leads a discussion with Tom Cox and Austin Hatch on Prudence, as presented by Joseph Pieper. Often we understand this virtue as nothing more than a cunning tactic, when in reality, prudence is far more. The virtue encompasses a capacity for silence, a understanding of reality, and an ability to make right decisions. Prudence is a virtue for the magnanimous. Listen i...

Tom Longano and Pat Love run a successful drama program for lower and middle school boys at The Heights. With their play coming up next week, they discuss the founding of The Tower Fools, what makes an effective show and what the fruits of drama are to the young liberal arts mind–and their audience.