So many people refuse to look at raw numbers and call it for exactly what it is.......

Having a wife as a teacher and having dated another after divorce and looking at a local school teachers parking lot each day I know quite a bit about their average schedule and work routine.

Fact remains they work less than 1/2 the days of a calendar year.
In addition to fabulous benefits and a retirement that pays MORE than their salary.
Tenure, meaning any crime short of a felony it's nearly impossible to lose their jobs.
No evaluation of job performance.
Raises are a guarantee.
Average work day is less than average John/Jane Doe.
Summer vacation!
Recession proof immunity from the economic changes.
Protection from *supply and demand* their jobs are safe
Lessons are routine (if you know your job) because you teach the exact same thing year after year a textbook would be in your memory.
Lessons are often already planned for you by the state curriculum
182 required work days-40k salary-8 hours per day = $27.50 per hour average PLUS benefits like retirement for life.... (8 hours per day was stretching it a bit long)



As for the *take home work*--- Please don't make me laugh with my experience from a 5th grade and 10th grade public school teachers in my life. Yes, it happens on occasion but far from a normal routine. If you want to see real take home work talk to someone self employed! Without retiremnet, medical, vacation, sick days and paying much much more in taxes!