HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive

A rapid rollout of integrated AI into technology we use everyday brings with it new considerations for our tech policies at home. At this year's Heights Parents Conference on "AI and Our Sons: Optimism in Uncharted Waters," author and public policy researcher Clare Morell shared the latest news and research to inform our digital decisions at home.
She points out that, increasingly, the vision we as parents have for our children is in direct competition with the vision big tech has for them. But an active and optimistic posture can help us guide our families toward a more humane way of life.
Chapters:
00:04:18 The lay of the digital land
00:08:38 Neuroscience of screens
00:18:56 The myth of parental controls
00:23:22 AI enters the chat
00:32:40 Maturity required to operate
00:35:09 Forming our children: parents and tech companies in competition
00:37:48 Digital detox for your family
00:41:29 A humane way of life: F.E.A.S.T.
00:43:59 Educating children on the harms
00:46:32 Adopting smartphone alternatives
00:48:11 Screen rules and accountability at home
00:50:58 Trading screens for responsibility
00:53:06 Reclaiming human flourishing
Links:
The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones by Clare Morell
The Tech Exit Supplementary Resources by Clare Morell
Preserving Our Humanity, Clare Morell's Substack
Meta's 'Digital Companions' Will Talk Sex with Users—Even Children, WSJ, April 26, 2025
Meta's AI Rules Let Bots Hold 'Sensual' Chats with Children, Reuters, August 14, 2025
AI Tutors for Kids Gave Fentanyl Recipes and Dangerous Diet Advice, Forbes, May 12, 2025
Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt in Essay Writing, MIT Media Lab, June 10, 2025
Sexting with Gemini, The Atlantic, July 14, 2025
The Social Dilemma, ages 12+, docudrama explaining tech company motivations, 2020
Also on the Forum:
The Tech Exit: How Smartphones Undermine Our Parenting—and How to Reverse Course featuring Clare Morell

Saving civilization well may begin with eye contact, a tucked shirt, a sincere apology, or a held door. For the dispositions we have toward the little things truly train our sense of human dignity.
In his new book, The Apostolate of Courtesy, middle school Latin and language arts teacher Rob Greving follows in the footsteps of St. Francis de Sales. His book offers a defense of civility for the sake of the soul, followed by a practical guide to many of life's social situations. From table manners to small talk to handling interruptions, our manner affects the temper of the world. And "when I have courtesy," Mr. Greving writes, "I am not lowering myself but raising myself to the dignity of Christ."
Chapters:
2:10 Mr. Greving's influences
5:46 Courtesy and civilization
10:53 The medium of apologetics: us!
13:56 St. Francis de Sales: the gentleman saint
19:09 Manners at home
26:05 Handling interruptions well
31:24 Parents and teachers as the example
39:28 The art of apology
42:37 Courtesy in the classroom
Links:
The Apostolate of Courtesy: How to Save Souls and Change the World through the Power of Manners by Robert Greving
Introduction to the Devout Life by Francis de Sales
Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C. S. Lewis
Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior by George Washington
Also on the Forum:
Manners: The Art of Happiness by Robert Greving
On Manners: The "ABCs" of Virtue featuring Colin Gleason
Enjoying Our Children and Why It's Important featuring Alvaro de Vicente
Featured Opportunities:
Parents' Conference at The Heights School (April 25, 2026)
Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 22-26, 2026)

How have we allowed such a daring story as the American founding to become so flat? A history lesson so simple, tidy, and inevitable that it can be covered in one day's class?
Dr. Matthew Spalding, dean of Hillsdale's Van Andel Graduate School of Government, wants to revive the living story of the American founding—and the Declaration of Independence, in particular. Calling it our nation's "epic poem," he sees in this document as a layered poetic, philosophical, and practical work of the American Mind. This week on HeightsCast, Dr. Spalding invites educators (and everyday citizens) to understand our nation's founding as so much more than just "an Enlightenment experiment."
Chapters:
00:03:04 "The American Mind" in 1776
00:08:36 A better definition of patriotism
00:10:57 Declaration of Independence: our epic poem
00:14:43 How and why we teach history
00:16:36 Founding influences: more than the Enlightenment
00:21:46 The American synthesis
00:26:40 "Pursuit of happiness" in context
00:29:22 Why the founding narrative is mistold
00:38:06 New surprises in old studies
00:41:32 Finding common ground today
Links:
Dr. Matthew Spalding, Dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government, Hillsdale College
The Making of the American Mind: The Story of Our Declaration of Independence by Matthew Spalding
We Still Hold These Truths: Rediscovering Our Principles, Reclaiming Our Future by Matthew Spalding
The Founders' Almanac: A Practical Guide to the Notable Events, Greatest Leaders, and Most Eloquent Words of the American Founding by Matthew Spalding
Also on the Forum:
On the Importance of History, Part I featuring Dr. Matthew Spalding
Why Arguments Make History by Mark Grannis
Keeping the Story in History by Mark Grannis
Featured Opportunities:
Parents' Conference at The Heights School (April 25, 2026)
Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 22-26, 2026)

Why tell the truth when it doesn't always pay? It's important to let boys encounter this question through example, literature, and enough freedom to wrestle with his own conscience.
In this rebroadcast of a 2017 talk, Head of Lower School Colin Gleason admits that you can't "teach" integrity with drills and facts. But you can create an environment that encourages it to develop. We have to push past consequentialism and avoid the adult instinct to root out the facts at any cost. Because the truth is a good and natural thing; the boy needs only to embrace it.
Chapters:
3:12 Dishonesty: from toddlers to adults
5:51 Examples of integrity
10:04 Defining integrity, and whether we can teach it
13:36 Getting past "consequence" ethics
22:14 Homes and schools where integrity can take root
24:47 Trust: the power of relationship
33:47 Freedom: their own initiative
38:37 Friendship: ready to guide and help
45:03 Dishonesty from fear, honesty from confidence
Links:
Jeremy Affeldt repaid the Giants $500,000 after clerical error, CBS Sports, May 15, 2013
"Sportsman" Roddick falls in Rome, The Seattle Times, May 6, 2005
Also on the Forum:
The Truth Shall Set You Free by Alvaro de Vicente
Lying to Dumbledore: On Moral Consequentialism in Children's Literature featuring Joe Breslin and Tom Cox
Featured Opportunities:
Parents' Conference at The Heights School (April 25, 2026)

Could creativity and intellectual freedom actually depend on the rote?
Following up on his recent article for the Forum, math teacher Dave Maxham dives into why fundamentals and drills are integral to creativity—not hindrances. Between the "drill and kill" and the "free inquiry" camps lies the golden mean: an understanding that mastery and even delight in the basics allows for real, nimble handling of creative problems.
Chapters:
3:19 Defining automaticity, creativity
7:09 The automatic enables the creative
15:14 Returning to basics, overcoming boredom
19:14 Struggle and humility bear fruit
24:05 Mastery and the intrinsic payoff
27:24 Model delight in your subject
35:13 With low standards, high expectations
42:25 The goals of homework
47:58 Cover less material, emphasize process
55:45 Letting them work it out
Links:
Automaticity and Creativity by David Maxham
Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton (see chapter 4, "The Ethics of Elfland")
Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanation and Explicit Teaching by Zach Groshnell
The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids' Learning—And How to Help Them Thrive Again by Jared Cooney Horvath
Also on the Forum:
Classroom Habits of Attention in the Age of AI featuring Andrew Cantarutti
Mathematics: The Lost Liberal Art featuring Dave Maxham
The Math Problem: Tackling the "I'm Terrible at Math" Mentality featuring Dave Maxham
Featured Opportunities:
Parents' Conference at The Heights School (April 25, 2026) – link coming soon
The Art of Teaching Boys Conference at The Heights School (May 6-8, 2026) – waitlist
Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 22-26, 2026)
Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 2026)