Brian Ammon: " it was like a rush-.
Another example of negative aspects of conformity, involving Laurie from The Wave is the bullying and harassment issues that were ensued. When Laurie utters doubts in the overall popularity of The Wave she is admonished by two supervisors, Brian and Robert.
Probably the most dramatic event in the novel was when Laurie was definitely against The Wave. Unlike the other class members, she wasn't hooked on the idea, didn't take it as seriously, or let it run her life. Because of this, she was tormented and ridiculed, and eventually was hit by her boyfriend David. This was done because she went against the group - because she was an individual.
During a general assembly in Dead Poets Society, four pillars bearing the words Honour, Excellence, Discipline, and Tradition are brought in by students. These four values are held at Welton Academy not only to promote the sincerity of the school internally, but also to provide standards for the students to perform at. Since Welton Academy is not a school where the boys may indulge in individual fantasies, it attempts to create a utopian society within the school, with students conforming to its rules and regulations. Some examples of the strict guidelines of Welton academy:.
Staff members teach as if from an ancient manual.
Stiff formal assemblies.
John Keating, does not belong at Welton Academy because of his progressive teaching methods, but because he encourages students to think for them selves. .
John Keating told the students to always view things from a different perspective. To illustrate this, he took the class out onto the oval and gave each of them a quote. They were then required to kick a football and recite the quote. He did this to give them the feeling of freedom and power and so everyone has to look silly in front of each other thus reducing embarrassment for their oral presentation.
"Keating: I want you to find your own walk right now, your own way of striding, pacing: any direction, anything you want.