Superintendents of other districts, seeking a formula for replication, have asked “what kind of ‘bench strength’ was needed?” Journalists typically declare “they [the school district] came up with X” as if it was just another day's routine work of bureaucrats.  This shrinks to insignificance a story that defies presumption. There was no “bench strength.” The birth spanned many years and successive casts. The credit belongs largely to the patience and persistence of volunteers, mostly female.

Why has it been durable? I am taught by 25 year hindsight.  A social device which contracts citizens to sacrifice must be owned by the citizens. Hence it must be authored by them. They must believe they can do it and that there exists a method that fits. There is little return in writing a manual for experts. For an audience of motivated “regular folk” I have crafted, I hope, a lively narrative.

In the national conversation I hear only uninformed assertions about how such a puzzle gets solved and its solution embraced. I hear no voice which appears to have learned from a like experience.

For the few who have interest in the “hands on”, a “tech topics” appendix outlines the mechanics we devised.