Compared to the ill-feeling and rancour at the ASTI's gathering in Galway, the annual conference of their employers has been a far happier affair, with school managers congratulating themselves on coming through a testing year intact.
Their representative group, the Joint Managerial Body (JMB), has taken its share of criticism during the dispute. But its general secretary, Mr George O'Callaghan, is one of the few figures on the education scene who has not been greatly diminished by this divisive dispute.
Steering a middle course has not been easy in such a hothouse atmosphere, but the affable Mr O'Callaghan has not put a foot wrong. With angry parents and teachers weighing up every statement, it is remarkable that Mr O'Callaghan and the JMB have not found themselves in conflict with either group yet.
Under his leadership, there has also been a cohesion to the JMB's approach. Unlike some of the teacher unions, there have been no solo runs by members and no public sniping. Unity has been maintained, even though there has been vigorous discussion among members about the rights and wrongs of ASTI's actions.
Many school managers have led a double life since the ASTI dispute began in November. On the one hand they have legal responsibilities to keep schools open and give children an education, but on the other hand many principals are members of ASTI and are bound by its directives.
JMB president Mgr James Cassin outlined this difficulty to delegates on Wednesday: "For principals who are members of ASTI their role was rendered doubly difficult. They are the executives of management in the day-to-day running of the school while they are also members of their union who were pursuing industrial action that had a direct impact on the operation of the school."
This dichotomy caused much soul searching among JMB members. Several principals resigned from the ASTI rather than face the inherent contradiction between their job description and union member ship. Others lobbied quietly behind the scenes, and no doubt, others cast their votes for the Labour Court proposals, hoping to bring the ASTI action to an end.
Mr O'Callaghan faced his biggest test when the ASTI pulled out of supervision and substitution duties in November. This meant schools could not function within health and safety legislation. Parents were angry that some other arrangements could not be put in place to keep schools open, but Mr O'Callaghan said schoolyard supervision was not the only problem, as substitution would require qualified personnel. He stood by his decision to tell schools to send pupils home. But Mr O'Callaghan has said any further withdrawal of supervision will not close schools, because the JMB is determined to have a new scheme in place by September.