I have seen kids miss more than 25 days of school a year because their parents couldn't afford medical treatment for their child. At my school, we aren't doormats for irresponsible parents. We are their only hope. We do things like collect money to buy lice shampoo and deliver it to their homes. I will match the time needed to grade my students' science projects to any English research paper.
All dedicated teachers spend hours fulfilling paperwork demands.
Prep time should stop being taken up by meetings, or it should be increased so teachers can do the other half of their job. A law passed in 1986 brought teaching salaries in line with other professions in the state. With this increase came an influx of talented people vying for teaching positions. But since 1986, teaching salaries have declined significantly. Also in decline is the quality of candidates seeking teaching positions.