Connections

OBSS as a way of thinking about change also reflects an inability to see the connections between various reform strategies.  The mosaic as metaphor has value because it sees the issues facing urban education--perhaps education in general--as too big for one solution. The idea is for all of us interested in the topic to see improvement occurring when there is the construction of a coherent plan for reform.  We as a society certainly see the value of connecting pieces in non-educational areas don't we?

Using our home as a tangible example of this way of thinking, we know there are certain rooms necessary to every home.  Essential rooms include the kitchen, bedroom, and the bathroom.  How many times do you go to party and everyone congregates in the kitchen?  (Apologies if this reflects my middle class bias and experience.)   While other rooms would be nice, in terms of a hierarchy, we need these rooms.  Other rooms would be nice, but we might rank them in terms of their importance to the overall house.  

We might want apply this same way of thinking to school reform.