Teachers at Colaiste Cholm Cille in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, who spent yesterday in the staff-room catching up on preparation work, described the mood as "very, very militant".
Ms Mary Duggan, an ASTI regional representative, said she believed the industrial action had hit all second-level schools in the region. She knew of only one school where pupils had turned up and were taught until 11 a.m. Agreements had been reached with ASTI at a number of boarding schools to ensure pupils were supervised.
"People should be aware that the teachers are all here working - doing corrections, photocopying and preparing for classes," she said.
Most of the 53 teachers at the school are ASTI members and there was a determined mood. "Usually in these situations you might expect to find a `doubting Thomas' or two, but there is absolute solidarity. People feel the time has come when a stand has to be made," she said.
Ms Duggan said teachers were annoyed at the attitude of the Taoiseach and Minister for Education. "The idea that supervision is part of a teacher's job is a notion the Department would like to peddle in the public arena but they are quite well aware it was never part of the job."
Supervising break-times, covering for absent colleagues and extra-curricular activities were not being taken into account by the Government.
"People are very angry and they may be less forthcoming in giving up their time for games, drama, debating etc in the future," she said.
She wanted the Minister to invite ASTI to talks. "The invitation he has given is a meaningless gesture, a PR exercise to hoodwink the public, because he knows we are outside the PPF and we cannot go into those talks," she said.
Mr Gerry Breslin, who has been teaching for 26 years, said teachers would wait no longer for more money. "For years we were told to wait for the good times, now we are told to hold back to make sure the good times don't end. We have been losing out all the time."
He said it angered him to hear people saying teachers could take 30 days off each year. "I wouldn't have missed 30 days in 26 years. There is a lot of misinformation and it is very annoying."
Ms Denise Horan, a member of the All-Ireland-winning Mayo football team, teaches PE and Irish at the school. She coaches football and athletics at lunchtime and after school. "People don't understand how difficult teaching is. The pupils have all different backgrounds, and with so many social problems in the country, they are bound to bring them into the classroom."