Then there were other teachers at the school who took off on the last day of school and you didn't see them again until the week before school started. Those were the teachers that were still teaching material from 30 years ago that all the parents dreaded their kids getting.

Just like any job, if 90% of what you're doing is new to you or something you have to develop yourself if vastly different than if 10% of what you're doing is new or something you're developing yourself. Given the actual in class time doing the lesson plans is fairly static, that means the non-classroom hours of the day, or your own time, is what is required to make up the slack.

I imagine teachers of fields that have lots of changes (or of districts or states that adopt whole new curriculums) have it worse than some others. At least if they care about doing a good job.

It would be interesting to hear what your family members have to say about their first few years teaching compared to later years, and what period your memories correspond to.

1. Teachers in positions new to them probably do have more work to do

2. A lot of that work may be due to their own inefficiency having not yet learned the role.

3. That inefficiency ends up being paid for with a) time and b) stress, including family stress.

4. Even still, I sincerely cannot remember a single time in my childhood where we were not traveling all summer long.

5. Fortunately budget cuts can end nonsensical programs and save everyone the hassle :-/

What a weird period of time that was.