The Call of the Wild and Free Summary

Is the school system preparing your child for a fulfilling life – or just for office life?

1. The Decision to Homeschool: A Quest to Reclaim Childhood

Many parents begin homeschooling to rekindle their child's natural curiosity and joy. Ainsley Arment narrates her personal experience of sending her son Wyatt to conventional school and seeing him gradually lose his childlike curiosity. This created a growing distance between them, both physically and emotionally.

Homeschooling became a way to give her son his childhood back. After meeting another homeschooling mother, Arment realized there were various successful approaches to educating children outside traditional systems. She chose this path not because she believed school was inherently bad, but because it wasn’t working for her son’s unique needs and personality.

Homeschooling allows for rekindling bonds and nurturing a child through tailored learning experiences. Arment’s plunge into homeschooling highlighted the opportunity to preserve childhood innocence and foster a more connected family dynamic.

Examples

• Wyatt's loss of enthusiasm for learning motivated Arment to homeschool him.
• A homeschooling friend introduced Arment to the Charlotte Mason and Montessori methods.
• Choosing homeschool gave Wyatt a renewed sense of wonder and creativity.

2. Homeschooling: No Longer a Fringe Choice

Homeschooling has shifted from being seen as eccentric to a mainstream choice. Many families now view it as a viable alternative to traditional schooling, offering flexibility and room for individuality.

The number of homeschooled children continues to rise worldwide. In the United States, it's grown significantly, with 1.69 million homeschooled children noted by 2016. In the United Kingdom, homeschool rates increased by 40% over a three-year period.

This growth demonstrates that parents increasingly question whether traditional schools are best for their children's education. Why stick to the old system, Arment asks, when a customized approach can suit children’s unique needs better?

Examples

• Over 3.3% of U.S. school-aged children were homeschooled by 2016.
• The author compares education norms to blindly following traditions, like trimming the end off a Christmas ham without questioning why.
• Homeschool families now range from religious conservatives to urban professionals seeking tailored education.

3. The Traditional School Model is Stressed and Standardized

Traditional schools often prioritize standardized curriculums and testing, neglecting individuality. Schools focus on preparing children for structured environments like offices rather than nurturing diverse talents or fostering holistic growth.

Stress and anxiety are prominent in this system. An American Psychological Association study revealed children often experience more stress during the school year than adults. Furthermore, grades emphasize performance over understanding, leaving little room for creative or emotional intelligence development.

Arment critiques this "assembly-line education," which treats children as products and ignores their unique traits. Homeschooling emerges as a contrast, valuing children as multifaceted individuals.

Examples

• Stress studies highlight that children in schools experience high anxiety levels.
• Grade-based systems sideline non-academic abilities like creativity.
• Schools design environments where kids sit still, complete tests, and conform.

4. A Personalized Education: Following Individual Passions

Homeschooling allows focused, child-centered learning. Unlike schools that must cater to large groups, homeschooling adapts to the interests and needs of each child.

Arment emphasizes nurturing a child’s natural passions and talents. If a child loves stop-motion animation, they can dive into it. Homeschoolers aren't as concerned about “gaps” in traditional curriculums because they prioritize fostering a love for learning.

By focusing on curiosity over coverage, homeschooling enables children to grow at their own pace while developing confidence in their abilities.

Examples

• A daughter interested in piano can focus on it, rather than dividing attention.
• Parents are free to take a child wanting to photograph birds to reserves.
• Fostering passions instills skills like initiative and problem-solving naturally.

5. Homeschooling: Beyond the Four Walls

Homeschooling doesn’t just mean moving school classrooms home—it reimagines education entirely. It leverages flexibility and uses the world as a classroom.

Arment shows how homeschooled children spend more time outdoors, in communities, and even traveling. This broadens experiences and helps learning come alive. Instead of merely using textbooks, it’s about planting trees, exploring museums, or tackling creative projects.

Parents don’t need to be experts. Through learning alongside their children, they show them how to find and process information on their own, fostering lifelong skills.

Examples

• Helen Keller’s teacher Anne Sullivan became her lifelong mentor and friend.
• Parents accompany their child in discovering topics they’re exploring together.
• Activities like planting trees teach biology in meaningful, hands-on ways.

6. Homeschooling Strengthens Family Relationships

Homeschooling increases family time – an antidote to modern life where families spend an average of just 36 minutes a day together. Learning at home brings parenting and educating closer.

Historically, education used to occur within the family, only becoming regulated in the late 19th century. Homeschooling lets parents rediscover their role as mentors while fostering deep family bonds.

Arment notes that homeschooled families report improved community involvement and parents often rediscover creativity and playfulness as they learn alongside their children.

Examples

• Homeschooling reunites parenting and education, reclaiming family-centered living.
• Studies show homeschooled families spend more time outdoors together.
• Parents often experience personal growth while consistently mentoring.

7. Reconnecting Children with Nature

Time spent in nature helps children develop emotionally and physically. Arment stresses that staying connected to the natural world soothes the stresses of modern living and teaches empathy and responsibility.

Nature also promotes creativity and curiosity, both key to well-rounded development. Simple experiences like observing wildlife or exploring forests encourage children to connect with something larger than themselves.

Children need to rediscover nature through activities like journaling outdoor discoveries, taking nature walks, and planting gardens.

Examples

• Switching nature parks for theme parks is part of losing touch with nature today.
• Vocabulary like "acorn" is disappearing from children's lexicons, replaced by "blog."
• Spending time outdoors improves focus and reduces symptoms of neurological challenges.

8. The Power of Stories in Learning

Arment argues that storytelling engages both the mind and heart. Stories teach lessons deeper than rote memorization or facts.

Story-centered education is more impactful than relying solely on textbooks. For example, great novels, classics, or living books engage children emotionally and intellectually. This inspires a love for reading and provides lasting, meaningful knowledge.

Using storytelling makes learning more fun and encourages a lifetime relationship with books.

Examples

• Stories like "The Lorax" make environmental issues relatable to children.
• Living books like "The Secret Garden" leave lasting impressions beyond basic textbooks.
• Audiobooks offer an engaging alternative for children uninterested in reading.

9. Letting Play Guide Learning

For Arment, play is not a distraction from learning but a part of it. Children accomplish extraordinary things when activities are playful and purposeful.

Encouraging creative projects like building cardboard bear suits helps children develop persistence and resourcefulness. Play fosters social skills, emotional growth, and cognitive development in ways traditional academics often cannot.

Play ensures children enjoy their work, fostering success and growth.

Examples

• German studies revealed children in play-based preschools excel academically.
• Play creates opportunities to teach resilience and problem-solving skills naturally.
• Experiencing joy while learning improves retention and overall happiness.

Takeaways

1. Foster a natural love of learning by focusing on your child’s interests rather than forcing rigid schedules or curriculums.
2. Make learning experiential by exploring nature, engaging in hands-on activities, and pursuing playful educational methods.
3. Use storytelling and creative resources like living books to inspire both intellectual curiosity and emotional engagement in your child.