HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

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Writing and Thought; Oratory and Ethics: What we Give Our 7th Graders in the Core Mar 09, 2017

Show notes

This week's HeightsCast features Mr. Tom Cox, one of the engineers of the Heights Core Humanities Sequence, who discusses the capstone 7th grade course. Our 7th graders tackle Latin and English simultaneously. How? Why? Listen in to find out. At The Heights, diagraming a sentence in two separate languages can lead to clarity of thought and the good moral life.

Beginning an Uncommon Core: Part 1 Feb 27, 2017

Show notes

Longtime Heights teacher, Mr. Gerard Babendreier, joins us in the studio to discuss the benefits to students of studying History and Literature together, specifically within the context of the Freshman Core Class. Hear how this segment of the Heights Core Humanities Sequence helps students "learn how to learn," by taking them on a journey from Ancient Rome through Napoleon, using both literature and history as their vehicle. To know where you are going, you have to know where you began; see how the Freshman Core continues this exploration for our students.

WWRD? On the Roman view of Citizenship and Borders Feb 21, 2017

Show notes

A Liberal Arts education empowers citizens to make rational decisions about complex issues with reference to, among other things, our history. While we, as a nation, grapple with issues of national identity and citizenship, we would be remiss to ignore the experience of our ancestors, the Romans. Join Dr. Yaceczko as he explores Roman notions of nationality, citizenship, and borders, and, subsequently, how Christianity affected the literary tradition--and common ethos--of the Roman Empire.

Virtuous Use of Technology: Inspiring Our Youth to Make the Most of 21st Century Tools Feb 09, 2017

Show notes

Mr. Joe Cardenas applies his years of experience in advisory to the tricky subject of devices. As with many things, the best way to teach good values, is to practice them ourselves.

A Critique of Endo's "Silence" Jan 26, 2017

Show notes

Dr. Mehan looks at whether this novel is a true image of apostasy and of Christian martyrdom.

An Epic Education: Tolkien in The Heights Curriculum Dec 22, 2016

Show notes

This week on HeightsCast, we listen to an excerpt from Tom Cox's Heights Lecture on the virtues exhibited by Samwise Gamgee from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and how the study of this stouthearted hobbit is important in the formation of a middle school student.

Seneca for Students: The Value of Time and the Cost of Rumor Dec 14, 2016

Show notes

Seneca's writing and wisdom are not outdated. In fact, they are relevant and helpful now more than ever. Dr. Matt Mehan explores two of Seneca's Epistles dealing with good use of time and the imprudence of fearing an unknown future. The liberal arts are not just abstract and ethereal; they are thoroughly practical, as we see here in no uncertain terms. Seneca is for our boys and for us--a great read for the Christmas vacation. Seneca's Epistle I Seneca's Epistle 13

On Gifts and Devices: Reconsidering Electronics under the Tree Dec 08, 2016

Show notes

The well intentioned gift of electronics carries it sometimes unconsidered risks. Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente brings these out into the open, highlighting the ways that smart phones, tablets, and other devices can counteract our mission of forming strong-willed men.

Celebrating Advent: On Preparing for Christmas Without Jumping the Gun Dec 01, 2016

Show notes

Though we hear Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving, we miss an opportunity to grow with our children when we bypass Advent. Hear Mr. Tom Steenson discuss how we, as parents and teachers, can live the liturgical season of Advent in a way that truly prepares us for December 25th.

The Strategic Enterprise of Upper School Study, a.k.a. "Homework" Nov 17, 2016

Show notes

Join two Freshman Core teachers, Gerard Babendreier and Joe Cardenas, for a discussion about how high schoolers should approach their study. To simply call this homework is an unfortunate oversimplification.

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