Kentucky by Heart: ‘Summers off’ for teachers aren’t always a walk in the park; Wilmore readies its ‘Salute’

By Steve Flairty
NKyTribune columnist

It’s that time when schools are essentially closing down their regular instructional program for what’s often called “summer vacation.” I would suggest that the term is used a bit loosely, as I hope to explain.

There are some who say teachers live a charmed life because of the summer hiatus. My goodness, it is said, teachers get at least a couple of months off and are free, during that time, from the burdens of showing up for work every day, and for those with children, they have plenty of additional bonding time.

Easy life, huh? More people should enjoy such a pleasant job situation, right?

But while I can’t speak for all other teachers in the past or in modern days, I know what summers were like in my 28-year teaching career, which started in the fall of 1975. For me, there were two main items to deal with in my early years when my monthly take-home paycheck was not much above $500. The first item was to watch my pennies carefully, and that made summer vacation trips being done frugally, if at all. It made plenty of sense to take a summer job, but further education was also a priority. Kentucky teachers were obligated to acquire, in addition to their bachelor’s degrees, their master’s degree within ten years from their starting year.

I started work on the added degree the summer I graduated, right before starting my first teaching position in the fall. Luckily, I had some scholarship money for those classes, but I didn’t have time to increase my upcoming low income during those months. After that summer, it would take two more of the same and a night class or two to finish the degree.

I’m a pretty thrifty guy — some call me tight — but those first few years as a classroom teacher were tough financially on the home front. I ate almost all meals at home or at school. My clothing was worn and out-of-date — some might say “frumpy” — and my dating life was limited, likely for reasons of frumpiness AND a lack of funds.

So, after getting the requisite master’s sheepskin, my salary increased a couple thousand annually, and that was helpful. It also freed me, finally, to do some summer work. I became a summer maintenance employee for my school system, and it meant forty hours per week, often in the summer heat, of cleaning, painting, moving furniture around buildings, doing floors, and many other things. It was hard, unglamorous work for close to minimum wages, but I was glad to get it.

It wasn’t a “summer off,” for truth.

At this point, I could eat out occasionally and start changing my frump apparel for something a little more attractive. I did that manual labor thing for several summers, and I recall taking a two-night stayover trip to Myrtle Beach. Not a lot of time for slovenly leisure, but I felt like I was making a tiny bit of progress regarding the teacher’s “summer off for fun and games” perk.

Partly for passion, partly for the extra income, I took on second jobs with the school system during the regular school year. Among them was as a girls’ basketball coach (which started in summer), an adult education teacher, and little paid extras that might be offered occasionally. For a few years, I taught in the summer school program, and in 1984 and ’85, I directed a summer community program for individuals with developmental disabilities. Also in the mix was a stint as a server in a swanky restaurant in downtown Winchester a few nights a week and stretching it into the summer days waiting on tables for lunchtime.

In 1988, I got married and took on the responsibility of raising three stepchildren. The need for a summer job became even more important, plus, of course, a family vacation or two was expected. Living on a teacher salary plus my former wife’s modest bank employee salary made it a bit of a challenge. I proceeded to work in Lexington at a discount clothing store one summer and later, I was employed at a textbook seller warehouse and worked there a few summers. The work at both places was physically taxing and often quite repetitive, but necessary. I needed the jobs and appreciated having them.

All this said, my point is that “summers off” for teachers are not always what it seems to the general public. I’m sure it’s not true in all cases, but teachers so often may finish a calendar year working close to twelve months—just like others do.

Personally, I kind of liked it that way. I don’t want things too easy because it makes life boring.

And I’m glad I chose teaching as my first career. Despite the financial challenges and long hours of the profession, it was gratifying and fulfilled my desire to make the world better. Hope I actually did — even when I didn’t really have the summers off.

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Back in an April column, I mentioned an upcoming patriotic event coming up in the small but historically influential town of Wilmore, about twenty minutes from Lexington. The June 11-13 event has arrived, and it should be a memorable one, indeed.

“Wilmore’s Salute to Service” will bring “history, remembrance, and celebration together” and honor upwards of 250 American military veterans “. . . who have served our nation with courage,” according to event officials. Activities for all ages will be provided.

Four historical milestones will be observed:

A “escort” of war memorials will leave Southland Church, on Highway 68, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, with the destination being the Thomson-Hood Center (THVC). Main events, open to the public, start on Friday at the TMVC with the “Kids Zone” opening at about noon and the opening ceremony at 4 p.m. For more information, visit wilmore.org or the Wilmore’s Salute to Service Facebook page.