Hmm, some don't, but many teachers do work in the summer.  I watch my spouse do hours and hours of class prep and other school-related work week after week in the summer.  He doesn't stay up til 1 a.m. doing it in the summer as he does in the school year, usually just 12.  Carolyn's situation is a little unusual.  She also probably super crams in prep during the school year to get free time at other times.  And at this point, she doesn't have family members yet to look out for.  As a teacher yourself, I'm surprised that the issue of just this misunderstanding about teaching isn't one that constantly comes up. I'll admit,  I tend to be protective about this because I see how little people outside of academia realize what kind of intense pressure there can be on teachers year round.