Be seated. Conditions that produce tyranny could be the presence of an apparently legitimate authority, a certain motivational interest, and/or threats and manipulation. He always ate lunch alone. How could the German populace claim ignorance of the slaughter of the Jewish people. What's his name? Taking in large uncontrollable gulps of air. My heart was pounding. You're more alert. On the contrary, he had not simply followed orders blindly, he had actually planned his actions in great detailhe was an author of the Holocaust. Be meaningful. I was tearing apart. In the still darkened room I began the explanation. In telling their parents of the experiment they set up a brief chain of events. Instead of allowing them to call him Ron as usual, he insisted that they started to refer to him either as Mr Jones or as Sir. It just whined on. [9] Subsequent articles by other authors followed, some featuring interviews with Jones and the students involved. They, in fact, believed in change but were easily indoctrinatedif only for those five daysby what they believed was a superior cause. No one laughed. The photographers were circling the ritual snapping pictures but by now they were ignored. His students where attached to the order. There must be a program. "The first few days, the Third Wave was a game. The machine came to life producing a luminous field of phosphorus light. I made up stories from my experiences as an athlete, coach and historian. Eyes strained and pulled at the light but the pattern didn't change. With that, I gave the salute followed automatically by two hundred arms stabbing a reply. I was only doing my job. And there is something else. The roar of the Nuremberg Rally blasted into vision. The Wave is a made-for-TV movie directed by Alex Grasshoff, based on The Third Wave experiment put on by teacher Ron Jones to explain to his students how the German populace could accept the actions of the Nazi regime. To conclude, the Third Wave Experiment may have been unorthodox, but the Third Wave Experiment produced several insights and conclusions into the nature and mechanism of tyranny. Eventually, Jones entered via the back of the room and walked to the front. The other option of just letting the experiment run its course was also out of the question. Everyone seemed to be listening more intently. [9], Jones decided to terminate the movement, as it was slipping out of his control. I began to think of myself as a part of the experiment. After a few minutes of waiting, Jones announced that they had been a part of an experiment in fascism and that they all had willingly created a sense of superiority, much as German citizens had done in the period of Nazi Germany. Milgram's original "shock box" displayed at the Ontario Science Centre. In 1967, a high school history class in California became the lab rats of an experiment to study the rise of Nazism. (I later found out it was the father of one of the students. This unethical experiment is one of many reasons review boards were created and have made drastic changes in policy over experiments done on humans. A new member had only to be recommended by an existing member and issued a card by me. [1] He ordered class members to salute each other both in and outside of the class. In my view and pedagogical experience, a good pedagogical simulation should involve a sense of ambivalence between real and artificial that promotes an inquiry and reflection among the students. They had indeed fallen for the trap. What does he do now (or after he was fired)? Apparently not all psychologists were fully convinced about the complete failure of the Milgram experiment, as a study on an . How a ballet dancer or painter works hard to perfect a movement. Like awakening from a dream and deep sleep, the entire room of people took one last look back into their consciousness. Experiment in Palo Alto, California, proves that what happened in Nazi Germany was not unique to that time or place. Community is that bond between individuals who work and struggle together. It's far more important than that. Played guitar and enjoyed drama. You are no better or worse than the German Nazis we have been studying. According to a former student, Jones did a double take. It was a silent signal of recognition. The students began to look at each other and sense the power of belonging. In staccato words he pleaded that I understand and help him get home. But the rally itself. . You will keep this day and this rally a secret. The events were adapted into a non-musical play stage in 2011 by Joseph Robinette and Ron Jones. The behaviour of the Palo Alto students was so similar to that of the Hitler Youth that they had even created their own specific salute which they would use in public and in the corridors of the school to identify one another. The wave has good effects on the students. The next day, the students assembled in a lecture room at midday. Once again I faced the thoughts of closing the experiment or letting it go its own course. After the studies of Drs Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher, the common conclusions have been ditched, and Hannah Arendts words have been reanalysed to provide a new conclusion to the causes and nature of tyranny and evil. Ron Jones himself was, at the time, part of the Black Panther movement which was a far-Left activist organisation that was strongly opposed to the Vietnam war and the US government. I read every word of information as a student of life and learning the root of human need for belonging. It affected everyone. 1967 Original "Third Wave" Class, Palo Alto, California. To make the salute you brought your right hand up toward the right shoulder in a curled position. Joness students regretted their having followed a tyrannical regime, even though it was fake, and the subjects of Milgrams experiment followed orders because they perceived the experimenter as having some kind of legitimate authority. I felt very alone and a little scared. The Third Wave had become the center of their existence. I will remain an ageless benchmark in his life. Now the students do their homework to be able to answer Ben Ross questions. ", "If our enactment of the Fascist mentality is complete not one of you will ever admit to being at this final Third Wave rally. It was easy. Schoolteacher Ron Jones's personal account of his experiment which created a proto-fascist movement amongst his high school pupils in Palo Alto, California, which in 2008 was subject of the award-winning film The Wave. A German documentary entitled The Invisible Line (Die Geschichte der Welle) debuted on television on December 19, 2019. I hadn't planned such intensity or compliance. "Can we bring friends?" I decided to push the tolerance of the class for regimented action. He added "Strength Through Community" to the chalk board, and named his "movement" "the Third Wave". Third Wave banners hung like clouds over the assembly. He ended his pedagogical experiment abruptly with humiliation of his students via his lecturing. Robert is like so many kids in school that don't excel or cause trouble. Below this I wrote a second law, "STRENGTH THROUGH COMMUNITY.". (From around 2010) You will not allow your friends and parents to know that you were willing to give up individual freedom and power for the dictates of order and unseen leaders. "This is the final lesson to be experienced. The question here is not why but how the German people came to support the Nazi regime. The trial was over. I walked over to Robert and threw my arms around him. I sure do, it was one of the most frightening events I ever experienced In the classroom. It debuted on October 10[11] It was produced by Philip Neel and Mark Hancock, two of Jones's own former students. Any% nazi speedrun. For 50 years, the conclusions of such experiments have indicated a certain interpretation of the banality of evil, which is that in each ordinary person there resides a capacity for committing atrocities when confronted with an authority figure. I reminded students of what it felt like being in classes where competition caused pain and degradation. It's one of those occasions experienced by teachers when they least expect. Therefore, it becomes necessary in some cases to manipulate and monopolise peoples confidence. He was surprised when around twenty of the students made such reports. 2008 German Movie "Die Welle". Some would say he abused this confidence that the students had in him to play the tyrant, but, ultimately, he was still respected by the students and his colleagues even after the movement was exposed as a lie. A blank field of white. The ultimate triumph. Some subjects didnt need all four prompts, but the great majority of them did. I am Mr. Jones. Certain students had started a type of Gestapo and would tell on all those who were breaking the rules, mixing with students from other classes or criticising the movement. Robert was crying. Steve Conigio had been a sophomore student in my World History class. . Evidently, experimentation in the social sciences is different. The first day, the students acted almost as if it were a game and obeyed the commands of their teacher who they already trusted and respected. I'm afraid something will happen to you. During the 1960s, Yale University psychologist Stanley Milgram conducted a series of obedience experiments that led to some surprising results. Most of my fear emanated from the incidence of "tattletaling". The power of the will. Students seemed intent on the assignment and displayed Accurate recitation of facts and concepts. It was 12:07. There was not a murmur of resistance. 2008 German film The Wave, based on these events, A first-hand account from the Chicago Teachers Union strike, from education worker Agnieszka Karoluk. "Is it a code or something?" he was a body guard. Proper seating became the most important aspect of learning. 2019 Netflix Germany Miniseries . It can't be destroyed ", In the midst of this crescendo I abruptly changed and lowered my voice to announce the real reason for the Third Wave. Ordinary people will rationalise rather than be rational when they are in a threatening or difficult situation, in order to excuse themselves for being part of something that they fundamentally disagree with. In objective terms I began to describe the past events. Adolf Eichmann, however, was no ordinary man. A fever pitch of excitement swelled across the room. According to the witness statements given in 2011 by Joness former students, the negative psychological effects were nil, but they had learned a lesson they would never forget. He then led them in shouting chants of "Strength through Discipline! At twelve o'clock sharp I closed the room and placed guards at each door. tax collector. You are a selected group of young people chosen to help in this cause. I explained why I acted and then assigned four guards to escort the women to the library and to restrain them from entering the class an Friday. It's a secret I shall share with you.". That's how it all started. The autobiography of Albert Parsons, Haymarket martyr, written from prison. The Third Wave was disrupting normal learning. (2019, Dec 05). Does This Put The Transgender Debate to Rest? The entire collection however looked like one force as they sat in perfect attention. The Aversion Project (1970s and 80s). On Friday, the final day of the exercise, I spent the early morning preparing the auditorium for the rally. Then say goodbye. "The Third Wave isn't just an experiment or classroom activity. Taken to an extreme we have seen and perhaps felt what these actions will lead to. Strength through action The authority of Ron Jones acted as a force, a power, similar to that of Eichmann, the difference being that Jones was not motivated by evil, rather the opposite. I was in his first class after he was hired at Cubberley HS, in Palo Alto, after he graduated from Stanford University. I just kept talking. Powerful. Whereas others jumped in, they held back, watching. It was 12:05. I think its a great, although disturbing, story but I guess what I'm having trouble with is the timeline. You said that Ron was lying. Human beings circling and holding each other. When you're playing against all the odds the best action to take is to try the unexpected. The Third Wave experiment brought to light our creepy reverence for authority, shedding harrowing Milgram-esque insight into how easily we assuage moral conflict and diffuse responsibility when we . Kids were instructed in posture, began each remark with Mr. and saluted. The Third Wave had ended. In the faculty room (closed to students) he stood at silent attention while I gulped some coffee. Where is it? Very interesting experiment. It concerned a bewilderment at the German populace claiming ignorance and non-involvement in the Nazi movement. Ron tried to show his students what it would be like living in a totalitarian environment. No one moved. The advertisement proclaimed in big red, white and blue letters, "The Third Wave is coming." the average citizen, claim at the end of the Third Reich that they knew nothing of what was going on. I would dismiss the class allowing them to leave their desks and then call them abruptly back to an attention sitting position. pride, and action. I glanced over my shoulder. Well, the Third Wave gave Robert a place in school. When accosted by an English teacher for being a student in the "teachers' room" her just smiled and informed the faculty member that he wasn't a student. Several social experiments, such as The Third Wave Experiment, have taken place as an attempt to better understand the nature of tyranny and the conditions under which it comes to fruition. Some swirled back to momentarily hold Robert and me. I then said the words "Strength Through Discipline" followed by a repetitive chorus. Events were crushing around me. Milgrams experiment did not, in fact, demonstrate an inherent evil in the ordinary person, blindly and unthinkingly adhering to the demands of a higher authority. To allow students the experience of direct action I gave each individual a specific verbal assignment. Was The Wave Experiment by Ben Ross Succesful. Many critics believe that the so-called soft sciences such as sociology cannot produce any accurate conclusions, but the thesis brought forward recently by Haslam and Reicher is strong and has, with the help of other theorists, built a new attitude towards the conclusions arising from social experiments. He sat in the second row. The act of apology. The television won. While debating whether to stop or go on with the experiment I talked on and on about community. Across the country teachers like myself have been recruiting and training a youth brigade capable of showing the nation a better society through discipline, community. We learned what it felt like to create a disciplined social environment. Conclusions made by contemporary political scientists and sociologists reflect the experiences of the subjects of the Third Wave Experiment and make connections between those experiences and witness statements in history. That you could extricate yourself at any moment. A presence that will not change. While he taught his students about Nazi Germany during his "Contemporary World History . It's strange, you most a past student In these chance ways, You catch a few moments of your life. There was a mental tug of war between the people in the room and the television. [9] Jones then assigned each of his students an individual assignment, such as designing a Third Wave banner, stopping non-members from entering the class, or recruiting their friends to join the movement. We can bring it a new sense of order. For years I kept a strange secret. Here are ten bizarre psychology experiments that totally crossed the line. Indeed, people of all nations and races . So are you saying that what Ron says happened in the other class didn't really happen? O my Gosh, I thought this story was amazing. Then smiled, and slowly raised a hand in a cupped position. How far would you have gone? Worked in the "defense" plants. Take this story with a considerable grain of salt. We worked on this simple act for the entire class period. But where were you heading? Where was this experiment leading? To provide an encounter with community I had the class recite in unison "Strength Through Discipline." He then apologized to them for how far it all had gone, and played them a film about the Nazi regime to conclude the experiment.[9]. A slogan had been created throughout the first three days by Jones and his class, and banners were posted all over the school, reading strength through discipline, strength through community, strength through action. Then it was time to part. There have been a number of famous psychology experiments that are considered controversial, inhumane, unethical, and even downright cruelhere are five examples. I felt air rush back into the room. I felt sick to my stomach. In ghostly images the history of the Third Reich paraded into the room. Jones." Pledge allegiance to that society. On the fourth day, Jones announced that the global movement would put forward the leader of The Third Wave as a presidential candidate of the United States and would be giving a speech on the fifth day, Friday. Some couldnt even move from the shock. These and other controversial experiments led . We talked and laughed about the Third Wave for the next few hours. There was much more to see and try to understand. "Mr. Jones, for the first time I'm learning lots of things." Jones based the name of his movement on the supposed fact that the third in a series of waves is the strongest. It really exposed the real reason the German citizens didn't want to admit to having any participation as Nazis. The only reason I came to know Robert at all is that I found him eating lunch in my classroom. Faces without eyes. The deductions taken from such experiments are strong when they are seen alongside natural experiments, where the events have already occurred in history and have already provided a significant and real basis for the analysis of society. Class expanded from its initial 30 students to a total of 43. When the bell sounded ending the period I asked the class for complete silence. The real gestapo in the school was at work. Each time the response was louder. Although . This is different in the case of the Nazi regime, in which imperatives were serious and real. The advertiser identified his product as the Third Wave. The dedicated patience of a scientist in pursuit of an Idea. Without command the entire group of students returned the salute. They didnt know where their teacher was, and the doors were guarded by militant student Gestapo. Yes, I had been pushing information at them in an extremely controlled setting but the fact that they found it comfortable and acceptable was startling. [9], The students all arrived at 11:50 a.m. Jones had convinced a number of his friends to pose as reporters, and asked the students to demonstrate what they had learned in the minutes before the televised address would supposedly begin. To accentuate this, I requested answers to be given in three words or less. Pride Is something no one can take from you. Now that I look back, they appeared much like the child with so called learning disability. The Third Wave experiment took place at Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, California during the first week of April in 1967. I also questioned if they could make a good showing, because the press had been invited to record the event. It would not be possible to analyse such experiments without comparing them alongside one another since it takes a comparative study to come up with trustworthy explanations in the social sciences. Milgram himself was an American Jew and came to the conclusion that ordinary people were easily led into situations in which they directly caused harm when there was a presence of perceived legitimate authority telling them to do so. The Third Wave disaster. The first day, the students acted almost as if it were a game and obeyed the commands of their teacher who they already trusted and respected. [a] Jones, finding himself unable to explain to his students how the German people could have claimed ignorance of The Holocaust, decided to demonstrate it to them instead. Feel strong and in control of destiny. I said chocolate chip of course. They were doing something together. As I spent more time playing the role I had less time to remember its rational origins and purpose. The feeling of never acting, never being a part of something, never supporting each other. "There can't you breath more easily? it went something like this. 509-10) told his students in the . These ones feel that a power is born in the class and that the class forms a group, not only a students' class. Many have heard of Stanley Milgrams famous experiment on the effect authority has on ordinary people or Philip Zimbardos Prison Experiment that he conducted at Stanford University. He ordered students to attend a noon rally on Friday to witness the announcement. I talked about pride. Everything rests with you and your willingness to take a stand.". By this, the fourth day of the experiment I was beginning to lose my own arguments. The prompt was given in the imperative, but it highlighted that the imperative was literally lacking. They aren't bright, they can't make the athletic teams, and don't strike out for attention. Klink, Bill. I found it harder and harder to extract myself from the momentum and identity that the class was developing. I agree with you that Ron's pedagogical experiment was disastrous and that he did not make enough pedagogical preparation for his simulation of the Nazi totalitarianism with his students. I called it the Third Wave salute because the hand resembled a wave about to top over. Of believing so thoroughly in yourself and your community or family that you will do anything to preserve, protect and extend that being. The experiment took place at Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, California, during the first week of April 1967. It was one of the most interesting classes I have ever had. [9] Jones instructed three students to report to him when other members of the movement failed to abide by the rules. By the end of the third day I was exhausted. They would take the ridicule from the brighter students that participated in a measured and cautious way. Every fibre strained to perform the deed. Set in 1967 in Palo Alto, California, during the Vietnam war, racial integration and social revolution, the play centers around a young, popular teacher, Ron Jones, and his world history class. Following the analyses of Israeli-German historian, Yaacov Lozowick, two British professors, Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher, have studied the experiments of Stanley Milgram and Philip Zimbardo. "[1], Although the experiment was not well documented at the time, it was briefly mentioned in two issues of the Cubberley High School student newspaper, The Cubberley Catamount. He was a sensitive and bright student. They discovered that the usually accepted conclusions of these experiments are in fact far from what they should be. This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 16:27. Leler, Robin and Sakuma, Bernice. Ron is making a living out of lying about what happened at Cubberley. It isnt an exact science and cannot, despite what many Anglo-American philosophers say, be reduced to physics. It was equally disconcerting to realize that complex and time consuming written homework assignments on German life were being completed and even enlarged on by students. In A Nutshell. "Should we wear white shirts?" We get or take an ascribed role and then bend our life to fit the image. The feeling being correct was more desired than being free. "We can do it!" A strange calm is in effect when a room full of people sit in quite observation and anticipation. Strength Through Community! Ron's problem is he let it get out of control and that is why he was fired. We did noise drills in which talking was allowed only to be shown as a detraction. It was something we all wanted to forget. Late Wednesday afternoon I found Robert following me and asked what in the world was he doing. People being pushed into vans. In slow methodic tone I explained what was behind the Third Wave. Juden, Kommunisten, Zigeuner, Schwarzethere were labels for people according to what kind of offence or threat they posed to the regime so that everyone would know their place in society. Mr. Jones used his own students to test out his theory, that the desire for order and discipline was the key to manipulating a body of people to act a certain way. I feel entirely compelled to say that any one that takes this as an offensive measure is possibly hiding something them self. The Third Wave experiment took place at Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, California during the first week of April in 1967. The rabbi became a part of the experiment In remaining ignorant of the oppression in the experiment he became an accomplice and advocate. The Third Wave experiment once again indicates that the normal group processes that make social life possible also can lead people to conform to standardsin this case fascismthat most of us would reject. The belief that human beings are basically evil and therefore unable to act well toward each other. In this case it was Steve running down the street shouting "Mr. Jones, Mr. On Tuesday, the second day of the exercise, I entered the classroom to find everyone sitting in silence at the attention position. Jones instructed the students on how to initiate new members. What was he lying about, in your view? April 21, 1967. The big lie. It's not going to happen. Jones announced to the class that this movement was a part of a nationwide movement and that on the next day a presidential candidate of the Third Wave would announce its existence to the public. While the class sat at attention I gave each person a card. First I would have two students stand and call back our motto. Controversial and unorthodox as the Third Wave Experiment might be, there is a lot we can take from social experiments such as these, especially amidst the disaster and upheaval we have witnessed so far in 2020. I worried for myself. It was also the genesis of a secret that I and two hundred students would sadly share for the rest of our lives. "Pride is more than banners or salutes. The Third Wave was an experimental social movement created by California high school history teacher Ron Jones in 1967 to explain how the German population could have accepted the actions of the Nazi regime during the rise of the Third Reich and the Second World War.. Oh, you make promises to call each other but It won't happen. Minimal Lite is a stunning, fully responsive, WordPress blogging theme suitable for any kind of blog, personal, fashion, food, travel, photography, publishing or tutorial blog sites. Each Student had a job and they weren't to . I told him we were merely studying the German personality. The maneuver took five seconds. If we can change the way that school is run, we can change the way that factories, stores, universities and all the other institutions are run. No one moved. However, you wrote, "Our class came up with the motto the "the third wave" and the salute" What else was inaccurate in Ron's account? Situations in which students were pitted against each other In everything from gym to reading. ", "It's all set for tomorrow. I turned off the lights in the room and walked quickly to the television set. The Nazis also hid many of their crimes from their own people, named themselves national socialists (when they were, in fact, not socialist but fascist) and managed to abolish unemployment (food was nevertheless lacking across the country, much like in Stalins Ukraine). Motivations having been identified, it becomes easier to explain why tyrannical regimes can come to fruition and power. I was probing deeper and deeper into my own perceptions and the motivations for group and individual action. They were asked to read out questions to a student and whenever the student got a question wrong, the subjects were ordered to electrocute the student, increasing the force of the current gradually the more questions that they got wrong. [9] The students proceeded to conduct trials for those thought to be not loyal enough to the movement, with punishment consisting of banishment to the school library. He completed the third wave experiment because he was unable to teach his students how the German population in the Holocaust allowed the Jews to be treated the way they were. It would later be called 'The Third Wave' experiment. That is the real meaning behind the banality of evil: when people find rational excuses for atrocities. In the study, an . From Ron's description it is clear to me that his students (many? All of the questions probed at imaginary situations and sought to discover the meaning of this event. I was now standing next to the television directly facing the room full of people. He would talk to the parents and calm their concern. He was polite and condescending. "Through the experience of the past week we have all tasted what it was like to live and act in Nazi Germany. The trance with the television continued for what seemed like hours. Returning once again to the analyses made by Haslam, we can formulise different conclusions to the Third Wave Experiment which itself relates closely to other experiments and studies being made in the post-war years.