Swedes - I think you've hit something there. I tend to think of that question in terms of the story of Isaac, and I think there is absolutely no easy answer.
Visionaries who set their eyes on the far horizon, with a utopic goal are charismatic and truly have a place in the world. But how, and when, to judge the value of their vision, and their actions on the way to that vision? What if the vision is "wrong" (and in what sense would we judge it wrong? Because, historically it's on the losing side of history? Because we believe we have a wired-in moral sense and it offends that?) or never achieved?
And what if their vision is right but causes hurt to those around them, and are (even temporarily) in their power?
Against that, isn't there a place for the care of others, even if it contradicts a vision? Some more limited idea of value, which has extremely narrow concerns of care? Can it stop itself from dissolving into self-interest and nepotism?
Other people have argued this much better than I can, but I think you're right that it is an issue in this whole "Lefties and education" debate.
The more I think about this, the more I think we should start chatting about the "left "progressive" position on state education - what it currently is seen to be and whether that is helpful.
I think I'm going to go away and ponder what I think about this myself - because, to be honest, I don't know. Plus have several children to entertain, which isn't conducive to logical thinking.
Really interesting thread, though. And the fact these threads keep on coming up makes me think that there is a real absence of "political space" to discuss this, and a real fog over the "discursive positions" available.