The Heights Forum welcomed nearly 100 men and women from eighteen states to a two-and-a-half-day conference dedicated to exploring what it means—both in theory and, more importantly, in practice—to educate boys according to their nature. Participants gathered for an immersive program that included lectures, discussions, and classroom observations.
The conference opened Wednesday evening at the Bolger Center with a welcome reception and a headmaster’s lecture by Alvaro de Vicente, followed by a group dinner. Thursday’s programming paired semi-plenary lectures with small-group discussions. Andrew Reed, Head of Middle School, explored Freedom and Formation, emphasizing the importance of freedom in education and why working with parents is not an optional add-on, but core to the mission of a school. Michael Moynihan, Head of Upper School, followed with a lecture on Curriculum and Pedagogy for Boys, prompting small-group conversations on engaging boys in class. Optional office hours allowed participants to meet one-on-one with Heights faculty, asking questions specific to their own schools and gaining practical resources to bring home.
Friday brought participants onto The Heights campus for classroom observations and tours. Attendees witnessed lessons, recess, and the rhythm of the school day, seeing the ideas in practice. Lower School Head Colin Gleason concluded the conference with a semi-plenary lecture on Space, Movement, and Rough-and-Tumble Play, demonstrating the critical role of movement and play in a boy’s formation. For many participants, these observations were the most impactful part of the conference. One reflected, “Actually getting to see things implemented—not just talked about—was incredibly beneficial. Seeing the school in action and feeling the line between freedom and guidance helped me identify application points for my own school.”
Beyond the schedule, participants took away lessons about mission, mentorship, and holistic education. Many highlighted the central importance of clearly communicating a school’s mission and embedding it in both procedures and relationships. One participant observed, “You are forming men to become like your teachers and heads, and you are doing it through procedures, practices, and relationships. It challenged me to consider how our school pours into both staff and students.”
Freedom, play, and holistic formation were key themes. Attendees reflected on the importance of allowing boys to make choices, exercise their will, and engage in physical play as an essential part of learning and virtue formation. One summed it up: “It doesn’t matter if they make it into Harvard—it matters if they make it into Heaven. Let boys be boys, give them freedom, and train them how to use it wisely.” Many noted the importance of focusing on spiritual, physical, moral, and intellectual growth—not merely academic achievement.
The conference also sparked reflections on the importance of recruiting more men into the classroom, and recognizing the distinct strengths of boys.
The Heights Forum is deeply grateful to the Herzog Foundation, whose generosity made it possible to offer the conference free of charge. Their support reflects a shared recognition of the cultural and formative importance of schools dedicated to helping boys become men fully alive.
The Forum looks forward to welcoming educators back to campus in May for the next iteration of the Art of Teaching Boys Conference.
