Stories from the picket lines are fast becoming what folklore is made of in the staffroom. It is generally believed that the turning points in the dispute were the deduction of pay and Bertie's article in The Irish Times. Both episodes were seen as uniting the teachers and making them more determined to see the strike action through to the bitter end.

The question exercising the minds of teachers is, "Who wrote Bertie's article?". Tom mused as to the possibility this being a question on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' in a few years time. The options could be (a) Joe O'Toole, (b) St Laurence O'Toole, (c) Fionn McCool or (d) Fintan O'Toole.

"Honk, if you support us" gave rise to its fair share of funny incidents. Tom recounts the day when everyone on the picket line thought the support of passers-by was just fantastic, only to hear one disgruntled man roll down his car window and shout, "Get back to your classrooms ye sons of bachelors!" Mrs Maguire, who had four sons at the school, turned up trumps with pots of coffee and homemade scones. "My lads all did well for themselves thanks to the good education they received," she proclaimed, as she deposited the brew that brought the life back into frozen limbs.

Pictures of the picket outside the school appeared on the six o'clock news. Glamorous Mary was mortified as her hat made her look like a refugee from the North Pole. Tom, who had his facts prepared and was expecting Charlie Bird, was very disappointed.

The bitterness about the status of voluntary work undertaken by teachers will linger on and has the potential to change the very nature of schools. There are always those who contribute little to the school outside of their teaching. They argue that they are paid to teach and this is what parents expect - success in examinations. They have always preached this and now see their stance as being justified. On the other hand there are those who make a tremendous contribution to the school through their involvement in games, musicals debating, educational tours - the list is endless.

The belief is growing that if a teacher gives of his/her time to promote the extra-curricular life of the school then he/she should be paid for it. The days of grace and favour may also become part and parcel of the folklore of the staffroom.