Smiles fade in gathering gloom

Humour has died in the staffroom.

Gone are the days when teachers brought lunch in with them so that they could enjoy the banter and "craic".

Tom, who rejoices in the "staffroom wag" tag, decides to try his latest conundrum on his glum colleagues.

"What is the difference between a pothole and a cigarette?" he asks hopefully.

No reply.

"There is more tar in a cigarette," he says with a grin.

Once his jokes evoked peals of raucous laughter. Today, the odd wan smile.

Mary, who still has vivid memories of sloshing around in the rain on picket duty, epitomises the mood of the staffroom.

"So what did we achieve with all our disruptive tactics," she enquires bitterly.

"Public odium, loss of respect and nothing to show for it."

"We got shunted down the blind alley of supervision and substitution," interjects Pat, who strongly feels that the results of the recent survey clearly showed that teachers do not have the stomach for an all-out strike.

Fintan is regarded as the wise old sage of the staffroom.

He realises, only too well, that any changes will not come into force before his retirement next year.

"What is going to happen," he starts laconically, "is that all teachers will get a new contract for 23 hours. This will ensure that all teachers are available for supervision and substitution as well as extra-curricular activities."

"Every teacher will have to sign on for the agreed package in August before the beginning of the school year.

"The Department will respond with an improved salary scheme and will agree to make all the extra payments pensionable."

The staffroom dissolves into an eerie silence.

Before further discussion, Fintan leaves the staffroom in a puff of tobacco smoke.