[al_c]

That is $51,000 for 9 months of work. It doesn’t include the generous public retirement benefits that allow a lot of teachers to retire in their fifties, unlike most private sector people.

That may be true for union areas. My in-laws are retired teachers in TX. Both retired in their 60s. They don't have much money at all, but that's the way it was while they were working and raising 4 kids. Actually, only one of them worked while raising their kids. So they're used to getting by on very little. Good thing since that's what they're getting in retirement.

[VeniVidiVici]

My in-laws are retired teachers in TX. Both retired in their 60s.

So are mine. They retired years ago but are now in their 70s and teaching online college courses. They seem to live quite comfortably. Not that there is anything wrong with that :-)