What does the working summers part of it have to do with how much they make?  If you dug around you will find that most schools close the second week of June and the teachers are back the first or second week of August. So about 6-8 weeks.<p>I guess they could get paid less and get summer jobs as migrant fruit and vegetable pickers, or maybe lifeguard at the country club pool. Is that what you are suggesting?<p>Teachers shouldn&#x27;t be average.  Teachers are taking one of your most valuable possessions, your children, and teaching them skills like math, science, reading, etc.  Why should they make less than you do?  I&#x27;m sure you had some amazing teachers that motivated you to become the superstar you are today.  Let&#x27;s go back and replace them with &quot;average teachers&quot;. Now lets run you through the school system again.  Are you still a superstar or are you now some person at a min wage job?   Teachers make a difference and we should acknowledge that and pay them accordingly.<p>People keep saying they want to make America Great, why not start with the resource that can do that, people with a great education. A super solid 12 year education to get everyone on a firm foundation and able to really make a difference.<p>Sorry if it sounds like a rant, but I see other countries make huge strides in education to improve their residents lives and I see the US cut ours down to create more workers that can only function in a minimum wage job.