Dear Sandra,
In the calypso "Dan is the Man" Sparrow was making a commentary on primary
school texts that were written and prescribed for use in primary schools in
Trinidad and Tobago by Captain J. O. Cutteridge who was a colonial Director of
Education. Cutteridge was known for his forthright and authoritarian style of
management and for his introduction of the infamous and controversial Education
Code of 1935.Cutteridge was the author of the West Indian Reader Series from
which Sparrow took some of the verses and rhymes.
For more on Cutteridge see:
Carl Campbell (1992) Colony and Nation: A Short History of Education in Trinidad
and Tobago. Kingston: Ian Randle Publications Ltd.
Carl Campbell (1997) Endless Education: Main Currents in the Education System of
Modern Trinidad and Tobago 1939-1986. Jamaica: The Press, University of the
West Indies.
Hope this is helpful.
Jennifer
Dr Jennifer M. Lavia,
University of Sheffield,
School of Education
388 Glossop Road,
Sheffield, S10 2JA
United Kingdom
Tel: + 44 (0) 114 222 8097
Fax: + 44 (0) 114 279 6236
Email: [log in to unmask]
Quoting Sandra Courtman <[log in to unmask]>:
> Dear Members,
>
> I am using The Mighty Sparrow's 'Dan the Man' with students this week and
> wondered if anyone could tell me who Dan Cutteridge was and why he was made
> famous in Sparrow's song?
>
> Yours in ignorance, and many thanks
>
> Sandra
>
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