Telic Vs. Popular Reforms

In re-reading Grant & Riesman's book, The Perpetual Dream, I am intrigued by their differentiation between "telic" and "popular" reforms, which they presented in 1978. I'm interested to know what you think are the differences between these two types of educational reforms and whether this model holds true of today's institutions of higher learning.

I also found enjoyable and interesting their comment on how "room must be left for the 'miraculous' (which often means recognition of the significance of a particular person) even at the cost, in some instances, of catastrophe. One should also have an invisible net under the high-wire act of bold experiments to salvage both students and faculty who would otherwise be traumatized." (p. 8) How is this description of visionary leaders exemplified at Johnston? What are your thoughts on the concept of "miraculous" colleges and their visionary leaders -- it seems that some sense of the mystery, of the dreaming and vision must be present in both our educational models and our leaders for experimental or innovative (as I like to call them) campuses to come into being and to flourish.

Your thoughts?