You are right . You don't just get summers off , you get Christmas vacation , Spring break , and many other days off along with medical. benefits .  Continuing your education gets you pay raises .  It's long been said in college circles ---there are those who can---the one's who can't become teachers.  Many take up that profession because they like summers off , and there's nothing wrong with that . But it's no myth to sat teachers get summers off.  They have a part time job that pays a full years salary .  Good for those who choose to be teachers , but lets not make them larger than life.