Do you really want to be in school longer?

In class yesterday we discussed ways to improve the education instead of looking at all of the problems with the education system. One group suggested to lengthen the school day. While I see the value in students having more time to gain knowledge and process information, does this really help their learning overall. This whole concept goes against Gatto's ideas in Dumbing Us Down. Gatto believes that students are in schools way too long. They don't have any time for themselves to explore the things they are personally interested in. Why would we choose to take away this time that students need to be individuals and discover the world on their own in ways that work best for them.
The group also said that with the longer school day sports and extra-curriculars would be included. Isn't this how schools already work? If students want to join an activity it is after school, an extension of the school day. Maybe they would require students to participate in an extra-curricular activity so they learn social, teamwork, and strategy skills that they don't always get in the classroom. Some kids though, don't want to participate in an activity and would rather go run around at home with their friends in the neighborhood. This is still a social setting that students are participating and they are independently learning how to work with others and the best way to play a game.
Currently, I am reading the book Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire by Rafe Esquith. Rafe is a fifth grade teacher in a very diverse school and classroom. He also believes in structured/guided learning outside of the classroom, but making it voluntary. He shows movies after school to have students learn about what a good, respectable film is and how to criticizes films so they can make these decisions on their own. This may not seem like something a teacher should be worried about when kids are telling you about how they watched Psycho or some other movie that is inappropriate for their age or just rotting their brains as they watch, as a teacher, you want to put an end to this. Some of these videos are optional and some are required. He also has a film club that is optional for the students to particpate in. He has problem solving time an hour before school starts everyday but this is optional as well. Even though this is optional almost every student is there everyday because they want to be there and have an interest in learning. Rafe is also the leader for the Shakespearan club that students can participate in. He takes this group on trips to perform and watch performances. These clubs and activities also teach students the same skills as the required extra-curriculars of other schools but the students choose to do them so they actually enjoy them as they are learning.
To me, this is the most important thing when considering lengthening the school day. Are students still going to be interested? I believe that the more you force students to do something, the less willing and interested they will be. Extended school days may result in losing students' attention and intersets, so by then what is the point? By giving students the option to do something extra but showing how interested you (the teacher) enjoys it and finds it interesting will make students more interested in the activity and willing to try it.