Obviously, I got into teaching so I could have my summers off.
This is SO FAR from the truth for most teachers. Already, I have attended a three day seminar, put a very solid two weeks into moving and setting up my classroom, I’ve put a week into researching a future Humanities class, and I’m about to spend the next two weeks building up my U.S. History class, since I haven’t taught this class in a year. I’ll also spend a week looking at new software and applications I can use in the classroom. All of this for NO PAY. Would any of you do this for your jobs? I think not, and yet this the kind of stuff that is expected for teachers. Fortunately, this kind of “off books” work is normal for me because I come from a salaried Semiconductor background where they work you your waking hours because you’re salaried, so it doesn’t matter how much or how long you work; you get paid the same. This is also true for teachers, and yet we actually get paid for six hours a day, five days a week, 10 months a year. This of course is far less pay than what my actual working hours entail. Two years ago, I was working 16 hour days, six days a week. Last year, I was down to 12.5 hours a day, six days a week, and this coming year, I hope to get that average down to 10 hours a day, six days a week.
And then there’s summer. Last year, I took a month off to go travel (which was actually work-related since it dealt with World History), but the other five weeks “off” were spent setting up a new classroom and building up curriculum. This year, I’m only taking three weeks off, so it will be six working weeks. The thing I like best about summers now is that I get to wear shorts when I work and my work schedule is more flexible (no bell schedule). Strangely enough, I do miss having the kids around.