Agreed.
Vacations and benefits make teaching worthwhile in most places.
I presume you already have a job that pays better, else you would be teaching, since any idiot could qualify.
Mrs. Farmguy has taught mathematics in Texas for 29 years. Masters degree as compared to a mere bachelors for me. I have always made at least twice her salary. In Texas there are something like 20 pay grades. Once you reach level 20, thats all she wrote, and I assure you it's not anywhere near 65K, at least not in any district that she has ever taught. She puts in six or seven hours a day at school then goes home and grades papers another couple of hours. True, they do have a good part of the summer off. But when everything is considered, its not substantially more time off than what I get for vacation each year (Normally, during that time off, she has to work on special projects that someone dreamed up). I get to take mine when I want it, not just when school is out.
As for benefits...there aren't any other than being able to retire after teaching 30 years for a pension that is about the same that I could receive if I retired at the same time.
By the way, she says that they occasionally have to prove their competence. She says that everyone knows that you have to be political when they answer the questions.