Journalists, economists, politicians, civil servants and even Senator Joe O'Toole all received low marks from the second-level teachers gathered in Killarney.
The media were accused of constantly sniping at teachers and were blamed for demoralising the profession. One delegate even suggested teachers had become "under-sexed" due to high stress levels, although he emphasised this was only during term time.
Another delegate said that despite this occupational hazard, teachers would have to possess "balls of iron and a spine of steel" to survive a long campaign of industrial action.
The preoccupation with appendages continued as one female delegate joked that if the public could be grabbed by a certain part of their anatomy, "their hearts and minds will follow".
As the teachers contemplated such dramatic steps, there was no shirking the ultimate sanction in their battle with the Government - disrupting exams next year. It was obvious that delegates believed only strong industrial action would deliver them their 30 per cent pay rise.
As the mood became increasingly angry, delegates trooped to the rostrum to denounce the enemies of education and of teaching. Even Senator Joe O'Toole, the general secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, was described as "the ego has landed" to loud cheers. Another delegate said Mr O'Toole, who has supported the new pay deal, had displayed "condescending attitudes" to teachers.
The media were told by some delegates they had indulged in teacher-bashing for the last year. The feeling among media representatives of being put in the corner was made real as they were literally in the corner of the large hall at the Great Southern Hotel.
The question of whether size matters was also raised, first in relation to property. Mr P. J. Sheehy, a delegate from Co Wexford, said teachers' salaries were so low at present they "wouldn't buy half a shoebox in Dublin".
Mr Tim Lynch, from Kerry, was occupied with the question of the size of the economic boom. Referring to the refusal to grant teachers pay rises in previous years, he said teachers were told "the kitty is too small".
But he added this was no longer the case because the Celtic Tiger had become "a great big feline" which could take care of everyone.