There can hardly be a tougher job. But John White, the new general secretary of Asti, is confident he can revive the troubled union, writes Seán Flynn, Education Editor

Last week, John White, an urbane former English literature and history teacher from Dundalk, Co Louth, was officially appointed as the new boss of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (Asti).

There could hardly be a more challenging role. White comes to the job after a period in which the Asti became synonymous in the public mind with rancour and division.

During an unprecedented three-year period, during which schools were closed and exams threatened, the union burned many bridges. It opted out of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) and lost many friends in the other teaching unions.

Union members walked out in protest when the then minister for education, Michael Woods, addressed their conference three years ago. They also heckled their former general secretary, Kieran Mulvey, when he argued for a more measured approach.

Even Terry Prone, the venerable PR guru, did not escape their assaults. When Prone advised them to clean up their act in the media, she was hissed and booed by members at a meeting in the RDS.

Shortly after the strike ended, the Asti's former general secretary, Charlie Lennon, accepted a High Court settlement of €200,000 and took his leave.

Lennon had rarely concealed his antipathy for much of what was going on in the name of a 30 per cent pay claim. He now holds a senior position with Education International, which represents some 24 million teachers.

Through all of this mayhem, White - then Lennon's deputy - kept his own counsel. To his credit, he managed to straddle the bitter divide between the pro-Lennon and anti-Lennon camps.

White, a measured and calm figure, was always odds-on to succeed. As acting general secretary, he has managed to lower the temperature around the union.

He comes to the job with several advantages. As a teacher of some 20 years' standing, he says he "values and understands" the hugely important work of teachers. He has also worked his way through the ranks, securing election in various Asti committees. He is a former Asti president.

Despite the troubled past, White seems confident that the Asti has turned a corner.

He says: "I was very impressed with the nature of the debates at conference and among executive members. There is a real sense that the old personal divisions have been put to one side . . . that people are focusing on the issues."

After five years out in the cold, the union is now re-engaging with Ictu. Members voted overwhelmingly to ballot on a return to Congress at the annual conference. A process - also demanded by delegates - of preparing a document outlining the pros and cons of Ictu membership is now underway.

White's own views are very clear. The Asti, he believes, should be involved in every forum where the terms and conditions of teachers are up for discussion. Being removed from a process which involves the vast majority of other trade unions is "extremely problematic", he says.

White says his task now is to "present a calm, rational view of issues" and to be less strident. He will be helped, he says , by the "much better atmosphere in education these days. In part, this is due to [ Minister for Education], Mary Hanafin. There is a feeling that she really understands life in the modern classroom . . . and that she still has the interests of teachers at heart."

Teachers, he says, are still troubled by the pre-Christmas swoop on schools, ordered by her predecessor Noel Dempsey 18 months ago. Inspectors were ordered to check whether teachers were on duty on December 23rd as the new common school year was introduced.

White says: "It was very disturbing that someone, somewhere, felt that teachers were not doing enough. Teachers give hugely of themselves in the classroom. When someone does not appreciate that, they get very upset."

The new general secretary is also very exercised about what he calls the "growth of the raw market" in education, as parents scramble for places in grind schools and fee-paying schools. One of the strong features of Irish education is that our schools are so much more than points factories. They try to educate the whole person, while ensuring the best possible exam results.

The best schools, he says, are those which provide education for all social classes. Ghettoes of advantage are just as bad as ghettoes of disadvantage.

The Catholic Church, in particular, he says, should be working to ensure that schools have a mix of all social classes. "They should consider opening the door to more disadvantaged pupils.

"It is not in the interests of society that future judges and hospital consultants and the like have no school experience of mixing with the less favoured within society."

Rebuilding the Asti: key challenges

Tackling members' apathy

The Asti's branch meetings are very poorly attended. Sometimes less than 10 per cent of members bother to attend. The result? Key decisions can be taken by a very small group. White's task is to re-invigorate the branch structure and get members involved. A first step should see all important ballots taking place in schools and not in local hotels etc. This could help members feel more involved.

Rebuilding the union's public image

The Asti has taken a battering in the media. But it now needs to project a more positive image and widen its agenda beyond pay and conditions. White is likely to be much more vocal on issues such as educational disadvantage, declining classroom discipline and provision for non-nationals.

Sorting out internal divisions

While the union is much more united, there is still a small but influential militant group who exert a real - some would say disproportionate - influence.

White's task is to ensure much better internal discipline. His popularity among members - and his high standing among other trade unionists - puts him in a strong position here.