There are plenty of people who have it worse than teachers...A roofer working all year long in Florida makes 30-40k a year. Nobody here would last a week roofing in the summer time in Florida. Where's the support for the poor underpaid roofers? I'm lucky if I get a 3 day weekend... no summer off and no paid time off.. As you said"lots of teachers get jobs over the summer months" why wouldn't you add that to their total pay? Being a teacher Is the only reason they can have a summer job because they're not actually working as a teacher. I appreciate teachers... really I do... Sorry I have no sympathy. I am tired of constantly hearing how underpaid they all are. Some are probably underpaid but just a small percentage.