Conformity in the Classroom

Too often, people place a negative connotation on the word conformity, at least in modern America. At Buckley, we are pushed to think in our own unique way, and to produce orgininal thought, completely seperate of our neighbors. But pushing for non-conformity is an odd practice when the only person that can really spur it is the one being pushed in the first place. Futhermore, is it not non-conformist to heed to societal norms, when  being told not to conform? The best way to deal with an issue of over-conformity is to step away and let things settle on their own. Democracy, in fact, is the greatest tool society has to combat conformity as it is based in compromise and an amalgamtion of thoughts and ideas. (Facism is the tool of the confromist).