Teachers are required to have much more than a bachelor’s degree and are required to continue training regularly. I also have never known a teacher who has had a student loan forgiven. You are correct, teachers do get July and August off, but without pay. Teachers are professionals, and I base that on the level of education required and their responsibilities. Thus they should get certain professional benefits. I will however agree that teachers should expect to contribute some portion to healthcare and retirement but keep it in the portions other professionals would be expected to contribute. Personally I am more concerned by the policy of tenure. If a teacher is good and continues to be good then they would have no problem. If they are no longer a good match for a school, the school should have the option of letting them go, just like the rest of the world.