Subject: How Wrong Models Can Be

Posted by Tim Joy on 8/30/2010

Message:

As we started up the school year, we administrators posited a view of how our school organization worked: where information flowed, what kind of decisions were made at particular levels, and the direction of supervision. It was quite a lesson on Korzybski's dictum - the map is not the thing. While the model surfaced some spirited debate, it also tapped the shoulders of some old demons - where does power really exist in a school, what role do teachers play, to what extent do teachers have influence in a school's direction?

In my blog (http://itsallonething.wordpress.com/) I talk about a time early in my life when a model and the world did not match. It was a big moment.

And now this . . . I am wondering if anyone has some thoughts on a model that is helpful about the flow of information and decision-making at a school level?

Hope all are well as we start up this new school year.

Tim Joy
Portland, Oregon

Follow Ups:

How Wrong Models Can Be - Dexter Chapin 8/31/2010