The teaching power is analogous to the power of the military; just as we deploy the power of the military in defence of our territorial integrity, so too we deploy the teaching power in defence of our spiritual integrity. All educators are engaged in a perpetual war with enemies both foreign and domestic: e.g. a-historicity, pseudo-patriotism, careerism and opportunism. When our educators administer the teaching power responsibly, morally and patriotically they fulfill an ancient spiritual function that inspires the pursuit of virtue and excellence. When the teaching power is misapplied, as is so often the case today, it inspires the pursuit of gain and pleasure.