5 . ▁The ▁teacher ' s ▁work ▁day ▁is ▁ 7 ▁hours ▁and ▁ 1 5 ▁minutes ▁at ▁the ▁Junior ▁Senior ▁High ▁School ▁and ▁ 6 ▁hours ▁ 4 5 ▁minutes ▁at ▁the ▁elementary ▁schools ; ▁with ▁ 1 8 5 ▁days ▁in ▁the ▁contract ▁year . ▁Te ach ers ▁receive ▁a ▁ 3 0 - min ute ▁duty - free ▁l unch ▁and ▁a ▁daily ▁prepar ation ▁period . ▁Additionally , ▁the ▁teachers ▁receive ▁a ▁defined ▁benefit ▁p ension , ▁health ▁ins urance , ▁dent al ▁ins urance , ▁vision ▁ins urance , ▁life ▁ins urance , ▁professional ▁development ▁re imb urs ement , ▁ 1 ▁paid ▁personal ▁day , ▁ 1 2 ▁paid ▁sick ▁days , ▁ 5 ▁paid ▁fun eral ▁days , ▁E lection ▁day ▁leave , ▁and ▁other ▁benefits . ▁Additionally , ▁teacher ▁and ▁administrator ▁ret ire es ▁receive ▁district - fund ed ▁health ▁ins urance ▁at ▁no ▁cost ▁to ▁them . ▁As ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁Pennsylvania ▁ranked ▁in ▁the ▁top ▁ 1 0 ▁states ▁in ▁average ▁teacher ▁sal aries . ▁When ▁adjust ed ▁for ▁cost ▁of ▁living , ▁Pennsylvania ▁ranked ▁fourth ▁in ▁the ▁nation ▁for ▁teacher ▁compens ation . ▁Te ach ers ▁who ▁take ▁a ▁leave ▁to ▁conduct ▁union ▁business ▁continue ▁to ▁get ▁full ▁benefits ▁paid ▁for ▁by ▁the ▁tax pay ers . ▁They ▁also ▁acc r ue ▁senior ity ▁as ▁though ▁they ▁were ▁working ▁in ▁the ▁district . ▁The ▁local ▁American ▁Federation ▁of ▁Te ach ers ▁president ▁is ▁facil itated ▁to ▁conduct ▁union