Obama just keeps socializing the nation.  Now he's sticking his thumb in our schools.

On the surface, it seems like a fine idea.  Let's (please, DO!) reward the good teachers, but how on earth is the government going to define "GOOD"?  Does the government think it's doing a 'good' job on things like the economy?  Every dollar they've spent 'stimulating' the economy has done no good whatsoever.  Instead of all that money, those BILLIONS of dollars being distributed to the public, they gave it to AIG, and Ford, who are now considering bankruptcy!  Forgive me if I question the definition of "good" with the current administration.

But please, if the current school systems aren't succeeding where all of the homeschooling families are, what makes the government think a longer day and longer school year will benefit the youth of America?  Think of it like this:  Say we have 2 farmers.  Farmer A plants on schedule every year, does the same thing year after year, and produces a mediocre crop.  Farmer B plants when the weather turns favorable, tries different fertilization techniques to find what works, and produces a good crop.  Lengthening school days and the school year is like telling Farmer A to plant earlier and harvest later.  Nothing regarding the child, learning environment, or climate (if you will) is taken into account.  If you were to say to Farmer B to do the same thing, I hope Farmer B would question and fight the impositions.

If the public school has tougher restrictions on their school day and school year, it's not going to be long before they're knocking on our doors pleading for us to show longer hours and more school days as homeschoolers.

Another question I have for this article's author is, "Where will the money come from for such a reform?"  I have family members who are quitting smoking cold turkey because the cost of cigarettes has gone to $5/pack and will increase to almost $9/pack by the summer.  No one can afford that.  The taxes will create a vicious circle.  People taxed on alchohol and tobacco will quit those (albeit bad) habits, so the revenue the government assumed will be less than figured.  Thus, the tax on things like food, gas, housing, income, or something else will be raised to compensate for the revenue loss from alchohol and tobacco taxes.  I cannot believe the taxes on the rich is almost half their income!  I'd stop working, or evade taxes if I were rich.  I'd move out of the country or something.  I wish I COULD move out of the country...