Your invitation to a Film, Conversation and Reception at the very place history was made 50 years ago
Save the Date!
The Palo Alto History Museum presents:
The Wave:
Palo Alto’s 1967 Experiment in Facism
Film, Conversation and Reception Wednesday, March 22, 2017 – 7pm Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
Please join us for a special screening of “The Lesson Plan” -- a documentary known around the world -- but never before shown in Palo Alto.
April, 1967: Cubberley High School teacher Ron Jones seeks to teach his students how the German people could accept the actions of the Nazi regime during WWII by creating “The Third Wave,” a series of exercises modeled on certain characteristics of the Nazi movement. The experiment is successful – too much so.
“It is the ultimate classroom mind-game. A charismatic teacher suddenly introduces strict discipline into his lessons and, far from rebelling, the students embrace it with gusto. Within a week, they have devised a uniform, insignia, salute and banners, and eagerly spy on and intimidate schoolmates.”
- Sheila Johnston, “The Wave: the experiment that turned a school into a police state,” The Telegraph (UK) – September 5, 2008
"Both the Third Wave and Jones are known everywhere but in the United States and especially here in the Bay Area, where the experiment took place.”
- Sam Whiting, “In 'The Wave,' ex-teacher Ron Jones... writes musical about 1960s classroom project that went awry,” San Francisco Chronicle - January 30, 2010
Producers (and former students) Mark Hancock and Philip Neel will join their former teacher (Ron Jones) for a post-film conversation.
The public is invited to a reception following the program.
Space is limited. Free and open to the public. RSVP here.