To help speed learning, Mitra has recruited hundreds of "grannies, " volunteers from the United Kingdom, many of them retired teachers, who function more in the role of "grandparents" than teachers, skypeing into learning environments around the world, encouraging students to do their best and praising their achievements.

CNN: What if students learn faster without teachers?

But the real function of the uniform, it seems to me, is to provide an easy, visible chance for the teachers to show who's boss right away.

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

Still, caught in the middle are thousands of U.S. military members, teachers and federal workers who are at the backbone of government's basic ability to function.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS