Principlev1
When a schema stops fitting reality, formally mark it as
When a schema stops fitting reality, formally mark it as deprecated with full documentation rather than patching it indefinitely with exceptions and workarounds.
Why This Is a Principle
This derives from Schemas as Knowledge Organization Structures (schemas organize knowledge) and Piagetian Equilibration Through Schema Dynamics (accommodation modifies schemas when assimilation fails). The principle is actionable guidance on WHEN and HOW to handle schema obsolescence. It's not an axiom about how schemas work—it's a derived prescription for managing schema lifecycle. The connection to software deprecation practices makes it clearly prescriptive.