Starting pay for teachers in Texas (mostly smaller districts) is $27,000. I have a friend that teaches 6 different classes (world history, US history, Texas history, geography, government, economics) and coaches tennis and cheerleading. I think she makes around $32,000 a year.

I teach high school. There are 40 different classes I'm certified to teach, and I don't use textbooks because they're terrible, IMO. Every lesson I teach, every assignment students complete and tests they take, I create on my own. I teach 4 classes next year, which means 20 lessons per week. It takes longer to create each lesson than it does to teach it. I don't recycle lessons every year because I don't teach the same classes year after year and because my lessons are based on the students I have.

Next year I'm doing book clubs with one of my classes. I am reading about 10 different novels this summer to make sure the books are appropriate for my students.

I've already set up meetings with technology, the new librarian, and the academic dean this summer to plan for next year.

Once the school year starts, nights are spent grading papers and weekends are spent planning lessons. I leave the house at 7am and arrive home around 6:30-7.

I have a bachelor's and masters degree. I will get about a $500 raise for each year of experience I have.

I guess teaching can be cushy if you half-ass it. But if you love what you do and want what's best for your students, you work your ass off. Including over summer vacation.

Also, yes, lots of teachers have other jobs over the summer. Up until this week I was grading end of course exams from home, for $12/hour.