Did you get your laptop yet Jim?" asks Martin, who enjoys stirring it up. "What would I get for £350 - a night with a lap dancer in Leeson Street?"

The promise of money towards IT brought a sense of light relief to a staffroom where teachers are getting more dejected by the minute.

"Does the laptop replace the age-old `apple for the teacher?' " interjects Mary. "Just a bigger byte" is the instant riposte from Martin. The ASTI steward comes in for his share of questioning. He gets very defensive.

"I didn't negotiate the deal - I just read the Labour Court's clarification like the rest of you."

"But what did we get?" asks a disillusioned Helen.

Answering her own questions, she says bluntly: "Nothing - in the process we lost the respect of the general public, of students, parents and faced the possibility of the exams going ahead without us - not bad for almost a year of industrial action!"

Philip, who has that certain penchant for getting most things backwards, blurts out: "Didn't we get the promise of a lapdog?" "Laptop Philip," comes the chorus. "But sure, maybe you are right, the Department is treating us like lapdogs," interjects Harry.

"Let's call the Department's bluff and ban all co-operation with the exams," proposes Dan from behind his Irish Times.

Dan is adept at pulling the pin, tossing the grenade, and then scampering.

A sizeable proportion of staff either supervises or marks exams each year. For many, it is the difference between bringing the family to Disneyworld or a mobile home in Courtown.

I think we should be balloted on whether or not we should hit the exams, proposes Bill, who is regarded as a moderate.

Though the mood for rejection is very strong, Bill could see a softening of feeling towards using the exams as the nuclear weapon.

Maybe it is because it strikes at the heart of every teacher's interest in the examination class, or there is £22 million at stake, or there is no stomach left for the odium that would be heaped on their heads, but there is a feeling in the staffroom that hitting the exams will not be part of any further industrial action.

"Sure the laptop will make a lovely Christmas present for the eldest" is the final quip from a strike-weary Harry.