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Save Me From Brick Makers
by A.X. Perez
perez180ehs@hotmail.com

Attribute to The Libertarian Enterprise

President Obama is calling for a longer school day and longer school year. His argument is that we need for students to spend more time in school to "catch up" with the rest of the world academically. A secondary reason seems to be using the schools to provide "free" baby sitting for a larger part of the day and longer through the year.

The first reason has some minimal validity, until you check and find out that other countries' systems frequently have shorter days, fewer days, and/or more holidays. The baby sitting issue makes sense, if you're a Spartan. And this is why I object.

My biological kids are Irma and my kids, not the state's kids (OK, so they're all grown up now, but the point still applies). Teaching them right from wrong, how much individualism (a lot) and how much communalism (a very small amount, representing voluntarily contracted relationships with family and friends) to practice, and other values is mammasan and papasan's job, not the school's. Kids need time to think things out for themselves, not have "guided discussions."

Kids need free time to read their own books, hear their own music, see their own movies, learn how to function as wild animals, both as individuals and part of a pack enduring minimal adult supervision, something this plan doesn't allow for. I won't claim that the "bosses" are plotting to steal this freedom from our kids, I'm just saying that they don't seem to understand how vital this liberty is to the proper growth from dependent infant to self responsible adult of the average kid, especially after age 12 or so.

Homeschooling is not the complete answer, too many people depend on public education, same same private school. Please note that I'm busting my own rice bowl here as these extensions would increase my income, something my creditors would respond to with the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" dance. t's true I might lose summer school gigs, but my regular pay is much higher than summer school pay.

Extending the school year militates towards making our children "property of the state" not members of a biological or adoptive family. Even giving those who would do so the benefit of the doubt that they are acting out of benevolent intentions we must draw attention to the fact they are creating a situation harmful to our kids learning how to be free adults. It must be resisted.

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