Some 43%, according to one poll, consider experience of running a business (ie, Ms Whitman) more useful for the governor's job, whereas 44% value experience of running government (Mr Brown).

ECONOMIST: The California governor's race

How about a Royal College for teaching, Ms Leslie suggests, providing a universally-recognised career progression to the teaching equivalent of the consultant surgeon, ie, a practitioner of the highest quality who also teaches younger colleagues?

ECONOMIST: Fixing British education