The Wave, Todd Strasser, high school movement, conformity, violence, individuality, discipline, slogan, power through discipline, Nazi salute, anti-Semitism, student activism
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Abstract
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Abstract
An open letter from Laurie Saunders denouncing the dangers of The Wave movement in her high school class, highlighting its violent and conformist nature.
Extract
[...] Our teacher, Ben Ross, had started to put in place this Wave movement. It consisted of setting up a whole system of rules to follow, such as a special greeting by hand and a slogan 'Power through discipline'. At first, this movement seemed like something positive and I think our teacher was the first to enjoy its benefits. For example, the students, who previously often arrived late, showed exemplary punctuality. A kind of cohesion was also emerging in the class, even Robert Billings, who was previously ostracized, who slept in class, who seemed always out of sync with the group, showed more care in his appearance and no longer seemed outside the group. [...]
[...] I am of course talking about this Wave movement. However, we start to notice strange behaviors within the wave. Of course, the members of this movement seem to be united among themselves, but to the detriment of others who would be more reluctant to join them. I myself am the object of aggressive remarks from members of the Wave who do not understand that I keep a little at a distance from this movement that they are so enthusiastic about. [...]
[...] If I find that cohesion within a class, a high school is a good thing, that students like Robert are integrated and no longer rejected, I think it can be done in a different way than by setting up a movement that tends towards uniformity of behavior and can lead to violence. I advocate for independence, open-mindedness, rather than the confinement of a group and on ridiculous principles such as this stupid hand-saluting movement that reminds us of the darkest hours of History and conformism. [...]
