1. Yes, I mean the tax payer because they are in fact the customer. They can walk. There are options and if nobody wants to be in band you are out of a job. Doesn't mean the inmates run the asylum but it does mean you better know your clientele.

2. You accepted the job knowing the requirements and expectations. If I take a job working 3rd shift and suddenly decide I no longer want to work 3rd shift I don't get to go to the manager and declare my new hours are 8 to 4. If you have things that will keep you from doing the job then don't take the job. Does the on-call doctor get to just walk out of the hospital because they "need to pick up their kids"? No. They work schedules and jobs that accommodates their life. Not the other way around.

Now, sometimes we are our own worst enemy. BUT, a band director is not a 7 to 3 schedule and literally EVERY person that goes to school to be a band director knows that. Doesn't mean your desires and life circumstances don't change. When it does, so does your career choice.

3. Pay - This is a great topic and I would challenge every teacher out there to start applying for private industry jobs to see just how good their salaries and schedules are. Only teachers, even band directors, are getting the salary they are with the amount of time they are off, (whether you argue it's paid time off or not).

I have never had an assistant work more hours than me so yes, my stipend is more. I had the extra meetings, more days in the band hall outside of contract hours, more evenings, and more weekends.

4. Yes, I did more indoor rehearsals and performances than my assistants. All? No. But more than they did. And remember, these are optional activities. If you don't want these teach junior high or find a program not doing them.

Some programs after hours is a requirement and not an opportunity. Choose accordingly when accepting a job. And I could have had a duty free lunch. Or I could work through my lunch, (which I chose to do), to minimize my after school extra work so that it was time in front of students actually educating rather than paperwork and lesson planning.