The Call of the Wild and Free audiobook cover - Reclaiming Wonder in Your Child's Education

The Call of the Wild and Free

Reclaiming Wonder in Your Child's Education

Ainsley Arment

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The Call of the Wild and Free
Flaws of Traditional Education+
The Homeschool Paradigm+
Wild + Free Core Principles+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10
Why did the author initially decide to pull her son out of traditional school?
  • A. She wanted to protect him from the degenerate morals of modern society.
  • B. She wanted the freedom to travel the world full-time with her family.
  • C. She noticed he was losing his childish curiosity and caring too much about his peers' opinions.
  • D. She believed she held higher academic qualifications than the staff at his school.
Question 2 of 10
What is the main point of the 'Christmas ham' story mentioned in the text?
  • A. It illustrates how traditional schools mass-produce standardized students.
  • B. It shows that society accepts traditional schooling primarily out of habit and generational repetition.
  • C. It highlights the importance of incorporating family traditions into a homeschool curriculum.
  • D. It demonstrates how children learn best through practical, hands-on activities like cooking.
Question 3 of 10
According to the book, what is a primary negative consequence of schools focusing heavily on testing and grading?
  • A. It creates a highly competitive environment that prematurely prepares children for office life.
  • B. It promotes a diminished conception of learning that ignores non-academic forms of intelligence.
  • C. It forces parents to spend too much money on private tutors and test-prep materials.
  • D. It makes it impossible for teachers to build personal relationships with their students.
Question 4 of 10
How does the author view the requirement of parents being 'qualified teachers' to homeschool successfully?
  • A. Parents must obtain a basic teaching certificate before starting a homeschool curriculum.
  • B. Parents should hire specialized tutors for subjects they do not completely understand.
  • C. Not being an expert is an advantage because parents can learn alongside their children.
  • D. Parents only need to be qualified in basic literacy and mathematics to teach effectively.
Question 5 of 10
Why does the author compare the homeschool parent to Anne Sullivan (Helen Keller's teacher)?
  • A. To show that homeschooling requires immense sacrifice and lifelong dedication.
  • B. To emphasize that parents should act as companions and co-learners rather than just authoritative lecturers.
  • C. To prove that homeschooling is the only effective way to teach children with physical or learning disabilities.
  • D. To highlight the importance of teaching practical life skills alongside standard academics.
Question 6 of 10
What point is the author making by mentioning the Oxford Junior Dictionary's removal of words like 'acorn' and 'blackberry'?
  • A. Children's vocabulary is naturally evolving to become more sophisticated.
  • B. Traditional schools are failing to teach basic spelling and grammar.
  • C. Society is systematically losing touch with the natural world in favor of technology.
  • D. Modern textbooks are becoming too reliant on digital formats instead of print.
Question 7 of 10
In the context of the Wild + Free philosophy, what is the difference between 'living books' and 'textbooks'?
  • A. Living books are interactive digital stories, while textbooks are traditional paper books.
  • B. Living books are culturally significant works that impact readers deeply, while textbooks are designed merely to shovel information for exams.
  • C. Living books focus exclusively on nature and biology, while textbooks cover all academic subjects.
  • D. Living books are written by homeschool parents, while textbooks are published by government educational boards.
Question 8 of 10
What is the meaning behind the hydrogen peroxide (antiseptic) analogy regarding education?
  • A. Education, like medicine, is necessary for a child's long-term health and survival.
  • B. Parents often mistakenly believe that learning must be painful, difficult, or boring to be effective.
  • C. Children need to experience failure and emotional pain to build resilience for adulthood.
  • D. Traditional schools act as a painful but necessary cure for a child's natural ignorance.
Question 9 of 10
How does Simon Nicholson’s 'theory of loose parts' apply to the Wild + Free homeschooling philosophy?
  • A. Parents should strictly organize their child's day into small, disconnected blocks of time.
  • B. Children learn best when given specific, step-by-step instructions for building complex projects.
  • C. A child's creativity is maximized when they have access to a wide variety of random materials and objects to explore spontaneously.
  • D. Homeschooling requires dismantling traditional subjects into smaller, easily digestible facts.
Question 10 of 10
Ultimately, what does the Wild + Free methodology state is the true purpose of education?
  • A. To ensure children pass standardized tests and get into prestigious colleges.
  • B. To replicate the structure of a classroom while maintaining the comfort of home.
  • C. To protect children from the negative influences of modern society and technology.
  • D. To inspire children to love learning and to motivate them to learn on their own.

The Call of the Wild and Free — Full Chapter Overview

The Call of the Wild and Free Summary & Overview

The Call of the Wild and Free (2019) is a practical guide for homeschooling children, brimming with advice and inspiration for parents thinking about an alternative education for their children. In the process, it dispels a few old stereotypes about homeschooling and makes a case for its legitimacy as a model of education today. Frequently going beyond homeschooling to reflect upon the concept of education generally, the author presents both a powerful critique of the school system and a call to arms to educate our children differently.

Who Should Listen to The Call of the Wild and Free?

  • Parents thinking about an alternative education for their children
  • Educators looking for ideas to complement a traditional education
  • Anyone who wants to rekindle their own childhood curiosity and adventurousness

About the Author: Ainsley Arment

Ainsley Arment is a homeschool mother, founder of the online homeschooling community Wild + Free, and a leader in the burgeoning homeschool movement. She has nine years of experience homeschooling her five children.

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