I was just about to say your experience with teaching is not the same as everywhere, and about to cite my friends that complain about all the petty "office poli

I was just about to say your experience with teaching is not the same as everywhere, and about to cite my friends that complain about all the petty "office politics" involved in their teaching jobs (between teachers and staff) and how easy it is to get fired (pre-tenure) when a kid decides they want to ruin your day, and generally management is one big cock-up (especially in university)...... but then you got to the paragraph where you said "My understanding is that in the US it is a disaster" and yep, my teacher friends are all in the US. Damn, I wish teaching here worked like it does for you. I'd have much happier friends, and might consider it myself.