I'm 70 and love to travel. A very high percent of my matches by EH are teachers. All say they want to travel, however, they also say they love their job, the kid interaction, and where they are employed. Most are still of working age. Teachers work many hours, have few days in a row off, and they usually state that they have read great books on travel, but have never traveled extensively. However......they want to travel.
I finally had to tell EH to quit matching me with teachers. I suppose, if the matched teacher was already retired, it might work. I have never seen a group of people who, state they love to travel and want to travel, but their job always interferes with them doing so. For me, I've found teachers extremely time limited, and a waist of my time.
Any comments on similar problems with teachers???
Steven - As you have discovered, teachers make a commitment to their employers, and are rarely eager to take time off. In an office job, a coworker can take up some of the slack when you take a day or two off, or the work might be able to wait on your desk for your return. For teachers, howver, that's not the case. A substitute teacher must be paid for every day the regular teacher is out.
You can imagine that a teacher who takes off numerous personal days is not going to be regarded with much affection by the payroll department. Students lose the continuity of any ongoing lessons when the teacher is out, as well. And the teacher, if planning a few days away, must not only plan substitute-proof lesson plans, but anticipate coming back to a desk covered with papers to be graded.
I'm only allowed 10 personal days per year. I try to use them wisely, for only necessary absences. If I ever go over the ten days, not only do I not get paid for subsequent days missed, but I am expected to cover substitute expenses.
So there are definite financial considerations for teachers who want to travel during the school year.