“This doesn’t take into account the teacher work days (required) during many of the days through the year when students don’t go to school, evenings and weekends spent grading papers, summer workshops, after school tutoring (required), etc. “
True of most professionals. The difference is most professionals are also required to perform.
Teachers fail, often. Not their fault, IMHO. The system doesn’t allow for any discipline. That was why, after doing my student teaching many years ago, I switched career fields. Didn’t want to be a babysitter.
Considered trying it again after I retired from the military, but quickly concluded things were worse now, not better. Teaching in public schools is all about babysitting. If you are extraordinary, you can also get some teaching done. But that is optional.
‘The system doesn’t allow for any discipline.’
if I were to grant any leeway to teachers (and I would rather pull out my own teeth, if I had any left), this is where it would be; they need to be backed by the administration...any damn student who wishes to disrupt the learning experience, he/she needs to be sent directly to the office, where a drill instructor type can deal with them...my high school had a vice-principal who looked like he walked right out of The Godfather, and had a stare that could kill...