The ASTI says it is not picketing outside schools today because of foot-and-mouth disease. While this is a factor, many teachers said last night the ferocity of student protests - and their dangerous potential - has scared many of them off the picket lines.
The protests are just one further pressure point in the dispute. Last night's frenetic Labour Court talks took place at a time of unprecedented pressure for all sides.
It was difficult to tell who was suffering most.
The Government was trying to fight its case with a foot-and-mouth crisis in the background and public service unions watching suspiciously from the sidelines to see if it was going to give teachers a sweetheart deal.
The ASTI negotiators looked equally frazzled. They were worried that if they failed to extract something from the Government, there would be nowhere else to go.
While the Government and the ASTI were looking to their traditional constituencies - the electorate and union membership respectively - there is now a new constituency exercising the minds of those involved.
Students, the great sleeping giants of the education system, have been woken. After years of being dismissed as the docile recipients of education, students are now making their voices heard. Even the most aloof ASTI or Government figure now realises this dispute must be brought to an end - not just for the obvious reasons but because students are demanding it be solved.
The setting-up of a new student body, the Union of Secondary Students (USS), heralds a new movement in Irish schools. While this embryonic group has yet to be tested, the idea of even setting up such a group was unthinkable until recently.
It holds a meeting in UCD tomorrow, which will give some indication of its future. While most students predictably will be face down in their books, those behind it hope fifth-years who are less burdened with study will get involved.
There is no reason for the new group not to flourish. Like young adults anywhere, Irish students are bursting with energy and have plenty of righteous indignation if letters to this newspaper are anything to go by. However, up to now the idea has never taken off in the Republic, despite several valiant attempts.
The old harsh discipline in Irish schools certainly played a part in keeping students cowed, but now the culture is different and students are more plucky and are aware - teachers would say too aware - of their rights.
In the last week, the student protests have focused the minds of everyone. For all their disorderly chaos, the protests have sent out a clear message to the ASTI and the Government - solve this dispute or face the wrath of parents and students.
Some of the cleverer Leaving Cert students have also politely reminded the Government they are of voting age.
As with all movements, controlling the initial surge of passion is not easy. The protests and school strikes witnessed over the last fortnight - for all their exuberance and bravery - have been too undisciplined to make a serious impact on teachers or the Government.
What is needed is some group - possibly USS - to channel or harness the anger and obvious frustration among students. Without this the protests are in danger of spilling into mindless violence, which will allow students to be depicted as immature people not fit to be serious players in education.
Some of the displays by students outside the Dail and at schools yesterday were shocking. One group of teachers in a school in Tallaght needed a Garda escort out to their cars.
Some students also hoisted banners outside the Dail yesterday which carried slogans like "F . . . the ASTI" which did their cause no justice.
However, it is important to stress that many of those involved were younger and many were just hijacking the event.
The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals warned last night that the current protests were getting so dangerous schools might not open on Friday because of safety concerns.
Mr George O'Callaghan, the head of the school managers' association - the Joint Managerial Body - said students should register their feelings but causing public disorder was not the way to proceed.
He said petitions and contacting local politicians were a better approach.
However, in terms of long term education policy, the immediate danger present in student protests is of little relevance. The more interesting question is whether student power can be harnessed by the groups emerging.
The chequered history of USI, which operates at third level, provides a mixed example for groups like USS. Once a radical voice and the bane of politicians, USI has suffered from internal divisions and widespread apathy from students for years and is still a shadow of its former self.
Fortunately, its current leading lights, like Mr Darren McCallig and Mr Julian de Spainn, have restored its fortunes and Trinity College and NUI Maynooth student unions recently rejoined USI. This has bolstered its membership to over 250,000 and it is now becoming a serious force again.