Perhaps his military education, but lack of formal military background, led to this unique quality.

Pull-out teachers in some states are not required to have any formal background in gifted education.

Despite having no formal background in biology, he has become a prominent critic of evolutionary theory.

"My mother's family were all musical, without any kind of formal background at all," she said.

Like many of her cohorts, she has no formal horticultural background.

Though he lacked any formal background in psychology, his short stories had all paid careful attention to human behavior.

Martin cites these literary and musical influences when asked about his decision to take up writing despite having had no formal background in the Arts.

Mr. Johnson, 54, is the first career employee at the agency with a formal scientific background to be nominated to lead it.

And on Tuesday the school board offered him the job, even though he had no formal background as an educator.

Fifteen to 20 percent of the kindergarten class was entering the school without a formal preschool background.