Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
ASTI

Cumann na Meánmhúinteoirí, Éire
Founded	17 March 1909; 116 years ago (1909-03-17) in Fermoy, Ireland
Founders	Thomas MacDonagh Patrick Kennedy Éamon de Valera
Headquarters	Dublin, Ireland
Location	Ireland
Members	18,500 (2022)

The Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) is a special group that helps teachers in secondary schools across Ireland. It's like a club or organisation that works to make sure teachers have good working conditions and are treated fairly. The ASTI is part of a bigger group called the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which supports many different types of workers' groups.

The ASTI looks out for about 18,500 teachers. These teachers work in schools where about 80% of all second-level students in Ireland learn.

Helping Teachers: The ASTI's Goals

The main job of the ASTI is to support teachers with everything related to education and their jobs. They work to make sure teachers have the best possible working conditions.

Here are the main things the ASTI aims to do:

• To make second-level education better for everyone.
• To bring all second-level teachers together in one group.
• To look after and protect the interests of teachers.
• To keep improving teachers' working conditions and pay.

The ASTI also acts as a professional helper for teachers. They offer legal protection to their members if they need it. They also campaign for better working conditions and help teachers continue learning and improving their skills. If teachers face problems at school, the ASTI has a team of experts who can help them. In 1984, the ASTI even started its own Credit Union to help members with their finances.

A Look Back: The ASTI's History

The ASTI started a long time ago, on 17 March 1909. It began with a meeting called by teachers from St Colman's College, Fermoy. Before the ASTI, there was already a group for primary school teachers called the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), which had successfully won better pay and conditions for its members.

At that time, secondary school teachers didn't have very good working conditions. Men earned about £80 a year, and women earned a little more than half of that. One of the big goals of the new ASTI was to make sure teachers were respected more in the community.

A key person in starting the union was Patrick Kennedy, a teacher at St Colman's. Other important founding members included famous Irish figures like Thomas MacDonagh, a leader in the Easter Rising, and Éamon de Valera, who later became both the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and President of Ireland.

In 1911, a special section for women teachers was created within the ASTI, called the Women Teachers' Association (WTA). Over time, the role of women teachers changed a lot. In the past, female secondary teachers often had to stop working if they got married. But eventually, women even became the president of the union!

The story of the ASTI is told in a book called Unlikely Radicals. The organisation has faced many challenges over the years. These include changes in education, the role of the Catholic Church, and big changes in the Irish government and society. Through it all, the ASTI has worked to make sure as many people as possible could get an education.

The General Secretary

The General Secretary is a very important person in the ASTI. They represent the teachers' interests on things like their pay, working conditions, and education, both in Ireland and around the world. This person also manages the daily running of the ASTI and makes sure the union's plans are carried out. Unlike the President, the General Secretary is a full-time, appointed job, not elected every year.

Here are some of the people who have been General Secretary:

The President

The President of the ASTI is chosen by teachers at the union's yearly meeting. They start their role on August 1st. Unlike the General Secretary, the President is always a teacher. They take a break from their teaching job while they are President.

Here is a list of the ASTI Presidents over the years: