(09-29-2009 08:30 AM)Crebman Wrote: Part of the problem is that the government uses schools as a form of daycare. They have schools feed them breakfast and lunch as well as house them in something of an orderly fashion. Now, Obama is pushing for the daycare to extend into the evening and weekends. Just when are parents supposed to do their jobs.
An excellent question. But it's the definition of "jobs" that's the sticking point.
The gov't views people as cogs to generate tax revenue. They want people working outside of the home as much as possible.
That's their job, as far as the gov't is concerned. They want kids in gov't day care, b/c that will be an obvious driver for why the gov't needs more.*
Plus the kids get indoctrinated into group-think. Just try to be an individual as a teen. Try to discuss why immoral laws shouldn't be followed ("But those are the rules!").
Public schools can do a lot of good, but they can do a lot of harm too. The path they're on leans toward the latter.
*Think of what 3 hours will add in costs. First, that stretches the day way past 8 hours. So you aren't just talking about longer hours, you're talking about hiring an entire new shift. That's more state employees, requiring salary, benefits, retirement, and then additional staff to handle all those logistics.
You're also talking about taking kids thru dinner. That's an entire meal that will have to be coordinated.
There's already a shortage of school nurses, and this will increase demand.
Moroever, the costs aren't just in dollars. This will affect household chores, church attendance, religious/familial/cultural celebrations, exercise/health, etc. All aspects of life will become even further shaped and molded by gov't regulation.