But the basic point is keenly felt among the French governing class.

ECONOMIST: French anti-Americanism

In an open letter to LSE director Craig Calhoun and chairman Peter Sutherland, the six students - Hoe-Yeong Loke, Mila Akimova and four unnamed others - said they "felt compelled to establish the basic facts of the case".

BBC: Panorama row: Six students on N Korea trip criticise LSE

The claims from private schools are similar to those from HM Inspectorate of Education, which said in its submission to the Donaldson review that many new teachers in Scotland felt ill-prepared to teach basic literacy and numeracy.

BBC: Teacher training comes under fire

"I felt contemporary art had failed its audience on a basic level, " he concludes.

WSJ: Book Review: Bad Boy

Myron Atkin, professor emeritus of education at Stanford University, says scientists like Hawkins pushed teaching toward basic research, and away from the practical orientation that they felt was holding science education back.

NPR: Sputnik Left Legacy for U.S. Science Education

They want to preserve the gains they've won in the past, but they felt giving something now is the best way to preserve the basic principles they've been able to gain over the last 50, 60 years.

NPR: GM, UAW Make Deal on Benefits