On the way to JFK for my flight back to London, I think about the high-octane, perfectionist approach that seems to be necessary if poor children are to have any chance of doing as well in school as well-off ones.

ECONOMIST: The state of education in America's biggest city

Occasionally, I got hold of rather high-minded newspapers like the London Times, which were my window on the British way of life.

BBC: A Hamster ate my Granny!