Although it is said that "everyone is born free," it took mankind tens of thousands of years to say this sentence. The anti-freedom thing has a long history, it hasn't gone away yet, it will come back if you are not careful.
The original incident did not kill people like the end of the film, but I think the implications are even longer. As the American teacher in reality said: "Even if you put this experiment today, you will get the same result... Go to your local school and see, can you find democracy there?"
Excellent subject, It's a pity that the director hasn't done enough, and can only score 4 stars.
ZT Nazis made a quick success.
They could not understand fascism in just five days , but suddenly they became part of this movement. In 1967, in a high school in the United States, teacher Ron Jones dared to conduct an experiment: He instilled discipline and collective spirit in his class. "Soon, the development of the situation was out of control", many years later, a student at the time recalled.
Ron Jones was helpless. Time: April 1967, Location: History class at Palo Alto Cubberley High School in California, topic: Third Reich. A student asked a question, why did the Germans claim that they did not know about the slaughter of Jews? Why do farmers, bank employees, teachers or doctors all claim that they are not aware of the tragedy that happened in the concentration camp? Ron Jones didn't know how to answer.
After class, the question was still circling in Ron Jones's mind. He decided to conduct an experiment boldly. He wants to rebuild Nazi Germany, a miniature Nazi Germany, in his classroom. He wants his students to experience fascism firsthand, not only its horror, but also its charm. On Monday, he was standing in front of the podium. Unlike in the past, he began to give orders to his class.
"Mr. Jones has been controversial for his radical teaching methods," said his student Phillip Neel. "Once, he divided us into two groups. One of them had to cover his eyes and move all day. Understand, what is trust." Another thing, this radical teacher forbids some students to use specific toilets in the teaching building for a few days. "He wanted us to understand what family segregation is," Phillip Neel recalled. This student of the year is now a TV producer and is currently making a documentary about Ron Jones' experiment.
Jade is not a master,
Jones is not only famous for his radical teaching methods, he is also a good friend of students. He lives in a tree house and plays punk music. But on a certain Monday, he ordered his students to sit upright, with their heads straight, their feet flat and their hands behind their backs. The next step is speed training: stand up, sit down, and repeat. Finally, he asked the students to stand outside the classroom door. After he gave a signal, the students ran back to their seats and sat down. Jones recorded the time, 5 seconds, 5 seconds silent. All it takes to do this is a few minutes of practice.
Jones went one step further. He asks students to read the article and then discuss, but they must follow strict rules: those who want to speak must stand up, stand at the table, and say "Mr. Jones" first, and then allow the speech. You must be concise and clear in your speech. Anyone who is absent-minded and arbitrarily responds when answering, he must answer it again, or even repeat it over and over again.
Jones insisted on his principles and was gradually surprised by the results. Tricksters have become role models, their courage to speak, unique insights, and clear answers. The answers to the questions are no longer just those old faces, and the level of both the questions and the answers has been amazingly improved. The students are more focused and more attentive in listening to lectures. Jones originally thought that the students would think the authoritarian teaching method was ridiculous, would resist, and would not cooperate, but the result was just the opposite. It is very simple to require students to obey the discipline and to obey orders. It is surprisingly simple. Students also become more efficient.
"He is a teacher we trust"
On Tuesday, he stepped into the classroom and was greeted with silence. Everyone sat upright behind the desk, although no one asked for it. Their concentration, their expressions full of expectation, no one whispered. They were waiting for him, Ron Jones, their teacher. He wrote on the blackboard: "Discipline creates power"-"Unity creates power", and then begins to lecture. The students listened carefully. When class was over, he made a short gesture with his hand: stretch his arm forward, the palm of his hand first upwards, and then slides downwards to form a curve. A wave. Jones made this gesture a greeting for the class. Use this gesture to show your identity in school and on the street and be a part of this movement.
Jones referred to this greeting as the "third wave." Waves always come in the form of three waves, and the last wave, the third wave, is the strongest when it hits the beach. No one realizes how similar this name is to the "Third Reich".
"Mr. Jones is a teacher we trust. I also participated, and everything seemed to be fun, it felt like a game. At least it was at the beginning," Neel recalled. He just thought that the teacher was very interesting in class.
Mutual whistleblowing-For the benefit of the collective
, Jones carefully observed every move on campus over the next few days. In cafes, libraries, and gymnasiums, students greeted with "wave" gestures when they met. This experiment has been extended from the classroom to the entire campus.
On Wednesday, Jones distributed membership cards, three of which had a red cross. Those who received these three cards were given a special mission: to report those who did not comply with the "Inspur" regulations. Afterwards, Jones began to "preach" again, from acting, joining the group, and talking about self-depravity. He was infected by his own words, and he swayed between the dual roles of leader and teacher. He is proud of his energetic students, proud of their achievements, proud of their unity, and he is proud of himself.
Then, a wave of whistleblowing came. He only appointed 3 students to report critics and opponents. In the end, 20 people came. They unreservedly denounced their friends who joked about "Inspur" and betrayed their parents who were suspicious of "Inspur". All for the benefit of the collective. This movement has become the whole of their lives within three days.
"From that moment I realized that the development of the situation was out of control."
"Although I participated at the time, I should be regarded as a bystander," Neel said now. Some students devote themselves to this movement, but some students are fundamentally opposed to this movement. "One time between classes, I told my best friend a joke about the'third wave'. As a result, the next day, Mr. Jones mentioned it in front of all the students. From then on I started to feel scared." Neel knew that his best friend must have reported him. "At that time he just looked ahead blankly. From that moment I realized that the development of the situation has been out of control."
When seeing so many students betraying their friends for this campaign, Jones I was also scared. He must find a way out to stop the experiment. But how can it be done?
On Thursday, the number of students in the class rose from 30 to 80. The newcomers all escaped the class they were supposed to go to. Jones announced that the "third wave" is part of a national youth movement aimed at promoting changes in the domestic political system. At 12 noon on Friday, the presidential candidate will formally announce the establishment of the organization. There will also be corresponding announcements in the school.
A strange coincidence made this statement more credible: Time magazine published an advertisement for a wooden product called "The Third Wave" on the entire page. The students were inspired. "No one had any doubts about Mr. Jones at the time," Neel recalled.
"We almost became good Nazis"
Friday at noon in the school auditorium. More than 200 students were sitting there upright, with the "third wave" wide banner hung on the ceiling. Jones gave a short speech, raising his 200 arms to him and making a "wave" greeting. The experiment lasted only five days, but it was five long days.
"Of course," Neel said, "I am also there. As an outsider, it is difficult to imagine what kind of group pressure has formed in just a few days."
In the auditorium, Ron Jones turned on a TV. Only snowflakes appeared. The students are waiting. There is nothing but snowflakes on the screen. The students are still waiting. They are used to discipline and obedience. After a few minutes, someone finally asked: "There is no leader, right?" The auditorium exploded. Jones began to speak, no longer loud and harsh, but soft and self-blaming: "Yes, but we almost became good Nazis."
No one wanted to mention the experiment
Jones played to the students. A film about the Third Reich: the Imperial Party Congress, the collective, discipline, obedience, and what this collective did: terror, violence, gas chambers. Ron Jones looked at the bewildered faces. The first question was answered. He said: "Like the Germans, it is difficult for you to admit that you have done so excessively. You will not be willing to admit that you have been manipulated, and you will not be willing to admit that you have participated in this farce."
He was right. The next day, the depressive atmosphere shrouded in the school. No one wants to mention this experiment. "I didn't get too deep myself. So for me, it was just a rare experience." But others didn't mention it until Philip Neel contacted them because of the documentary.
When Neel was collecting materials, he learned that many people felt embarrassed and were swept by the "wave" so easily. Especially the senior students, they weren't in Jones's class, but because of the "third wave", they ran away from the class they were supposed to attend. "It was 1967, and many of them were keen on politics at the time," Neel explained. "They participated in the student movement and even the Black Panthers (the African American movement in the 1960s). They were shocked at the time and gave up freedom so easily."
"This experiment produced such results because many of us People are lonely, lack family warmth, collective care, and lack a sense of belonging to a group. Even if you put this experiment today, you will get the same result... Go to your local school to see, can you find democracy there? ?"
-Ron Jones's answer in an interview
The "wave" embodies the phenomenon of "submission under power". The famous Milgram experiment studies this phenomenon.
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