Just a quick perspective to carry forward on the trope that teachers “have summers off.”
The truth is that teachers are a different kind of busy. If they aren’t heading off to summer jobs, as is increasingly common, they are getting caught up on projects that they had to set aside during the school year – because it was inconceivable to tackle on top of the many hours their school responsibilities required.
They are a different kind of busy catching up with colleagues, friends, former students, current students – having conversations and reunions there simply wasn’t time for during the school year.
They are a different kind of busy spending their own money to be increase their skills at conferences, giving weekend days to serve on voluntary boards, or already booking musicians for concerts in spring 2019.
Teachers are a different kind of busy after the school year ends. But they don’t have summers off.