Conclusion

Abstract

The human species is essentially educable because of its biological perfectibility, which is the source of its cultural creativity and the ground of its ethical dignity. That is why a human being is able to ascend to sublimity and descend to cruelty of which no other animal is capable. Education may be considered the greatest human power and responsibility. How might it cease being largely an incestuous cloning of older generations into the coming ones, hindering the perfecting of Humankind? The Gordian Knot of Humankind having to educate itself—and of the vicious circle of the reproduction of education’s wrongs—will only begin to be disentangled when its children may learn how to be with loving and enlightened parents, as well as with education professionals chosen among the best human beings and educated to act illuminated by the highest human values and the best knowledge. As a consequence, professional exemplarity, rightly understood, may be considered the quintessence of the teaching profession. In no other profession is example so essential and central. Professional self-regulation is a privilege teachers should strive for, a power they should be able to have, and a responsibility they should deserve. It may be a royal route to higher professionality, i.e. to superior identity and dignity, with the potential to become a bridge between the present and the future of the teaching profession.