Interview with Ron Jones

An imaginary interview with the teacher of "The Wave"

RON JONES

by Vassilis Ntemos, Spyros, Maria, Stella,Panagiotis, Aggelos Papagiannis, Vangelis, Giorgos Saougos

What is your opinion about the movie that describes your experiment?

When it comes to the movie “Die Welle”, the movie that depicts and disperses my experiment worldwide, it seems to me that it is a wonderful film with a superb screenplay and direction and great acting from its mainly young cast. It is significant that it propounds it in a realistic at some point way. Herr Rainer, the teacher in the film, conducts an experiment, because he wants his class to fathom the real cause of autocracy. Initially, students, who had the tendency to call the teacher by his name, were forced to cease this. Then they had to stand up while addressed and they were obliged to wear a white shirt and to make a special salute. After a while, students ran out of control and the experiment came to a bitter end.

What impressions do you think this experiment has left behind on the students?

I personally believe that the experiment that we conducted in class with my students was really constructive. The majority of the students took part successfully in our experiment, although at first, some of them did not conform to the rules of this project while others were not willing to contribute and participate in the experiment. This was an educational project based on a question that was stated in class. The project did not end up as expected. However, it is evident that students gained knowledge and experience from this experiment and they precisely broadened their horizons. They took their lesson on how not to be manipulated and how to think based on critical thinking and rationalism.

In conclusion apart from the negative aspects of the project and the unexpected ending, It was really prolific, instructive and educative for the students. This notwithstanding, not every student implied the message I coveted to transmit to them in the same way. Everyone had their own perspective as for this action and absorbed everything I said in a distinctive way. Some of them were really hurt and damaged mentally. It is hard to say that a great range of my poor students is still thinking of this “tragedy”.

3. At which stage in the experiment do you think something went wrong?

Well, to be honest, we were all so absorbed in the experiment that we really didn’t notice when we crossed the line, and by saying “we”, I mostly mean myself. However, looking back to it, it was probably around the time I realized how surprisingly effective my class was under the influence of the new rules, that things went south. I really can’t understand why or how I lost control of the experiment, but I guess it was in the same way it happened in Germany, so this could be the answer to the preliminary question as well.

What is the reason why you decided to take up the experiment and why did you continue it till the end even though you had understood that it may have negative impact?

I decided to take up this experiment because I coveted to teach about autocracy and authorianism, without dry recitations about Nazism. Instead of discussing with the students the fascism, I decided to go into action. To achieve this, I illustrated to them the power of being a self-appointed leader and how easily people can be manipulated. Initially, I didn't consider that it may have a negative impact on the students, but after some facts I realized that things could turn the opposite way due to the adverse circumstances.

What is your personal experience and thoughts about this experiment?

It was too extreme, I know I overdid it. The experiment after a while became way too perilous. My students lost their critical thought and they could easily be manipulated. On the one hand,we all learnt how things can simply get out of hand. It was an alternative way of teaching and for the first time I could control my class and that was in some way positive. Moreover, some students felt delighted as they found a role, a specific purpose in their lives.

I didn’t expect “The Wave” to go that far. I was terrified by the behaviour of my students, especially during the last days. What I commanded was a rule and everyone had to abide by my regulations to be a part of us, “for his own safety”. My class and I took the greatest lesson from this experience, but it was as frightening as a dictatorship. I am responsible for what happened and I have to apologize for making my students go through this. I am sorry. I know I can’t void the mental anguish and emotional disorder of my students, but I can assure you that it wasn’t my aim to provoke this, I yearned for a positive impact on each and every student.

When you first started the experiment did you imagine that you could become famous because of it?

Of course not and it wasn’t my aim not even when it flourished. To be honest, I was cognizant that this experiment was something unique, different, really precarious and the risk I took was massive. A sole flaw, a meager blunder and the things could easily run out of control, but I really yearned for undergoing this experience. When you endeavor something like this you know that it can have some consequences. So as you understand I couldn't imagine that I could become famous from that, as I did it just to convey a message to the students I tutored. I couldn’t say that I have achieved a goal or something, but I am really glad to be a counterexample worldwide.

The Wave