No Pan in Trinidad and Tobago's Schools?

[Pan Times]

In a recent post on the Nigeria Schools Panorama the issue of the removal of pan as part of the curriculum was raised by a WST member.  When Steel Talks has personally witness a dramatic increase in the presence of the steelpan instrument schools throughout the Carribean and North America on all levels of their educational systems (K-12 and higher learning).

The thought of the removal of the steelpan instrument as part of the Trinidad and Tobago curriculum sounds very odd? Are we missing something here? What would be the purpose of such a move given well documented benefits of having music education accessible to the youth?

[Trevor Emanuel Cooper]

Are we afraid to observe the "Political RACE card" in action. This is not about been a racist. because i am not, but this is reality.When the Pan in schools programme was initiated, i am sure we all should remember Mr Sat Maharaj showing his disapproval for the instrument to be used on a musical basis at the Hindu Schools. Those who do not know or cannot remember, please do some research and you will see the truth. It is most unfortunate that some people who possess so much influence can continue to think this way.

[jerome ebenezer clarke]

Trevor Mr Sat Maraj is totally out of order, may be a racist and i do hope that he reads my commment,,,THE  STEELPAN IS  AN INTERNATIONAL  INSTRUMENT WORLDWIDE,,,FACT AND NO  FICTION,,, now   i did  and can unto this point in time play and arrange indian music of the time of Mr Sat Maraj,,,,trust me, i,m 56 years of age,for an example  let him read this,,,dil  like deko...soja   soja,,,Sohani Raat, the list goes on ,these are indian music from the early 60,s and himself and the others knows what i,m speaking of,,,NOW  TEK THIS   FOR  THE  BENEFIT   OF SAT MARAJ,,,,THE  STEELPAN  CAN  PLAY   ANYTHING,,raw  language ,,,pan is  note  for note  tone for tone,,the steelpan ain,t got nigger,,whiteman,,indian or kolie..madras,,,brama,,chinie,jew or whatever it,s an international instrument worldwide,IT  PRODUCES   MUSIC,,SITAR,,DOLAK..TABLA DRUM????blessings.

[Glenroy R Joseph]

The world is ready today to embrace the pan and its culture, something that many of us for decades have wished for.

Unfortunately, many in the land of its birth are not.

That is too bad.

Fortunately however, all is not lost.

To this day, there are still Jamaicans who resent the reggae culture because the music was the songs of Jamaica's poorest.

Like Pan and Calypso, Reggae is Roots!

And yet, see how far Reggae  has gone!

[Sandra]

The Government is contributing to the juvenile delinquency in Trinbago by paying lip service to culture while spearheading all kinds of destructive and costly corruption schemes. Shame On T&T for putting up with this latest BS ! If you're not prepared to fight for what belongs to you...someone will take it for sure.

[Bugs]

True dat Sandra!

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[Barry Mannette]

Well this won't surprise me at all, remember this year there was a threat of no Jr. Panorama because the contracts of the personnel in the Pan in the Classroom unit were not being renewed, when it was brought to the attention of the media then the Min. of Education tried to act as if everything was ok and it wasn't. So if they are trying to get rid of the program it will not be a surprise. Even though the program is far from perfect, getting rid of it would be a step backwards. People have to realise that steelpan is spreading so rapidly to classrooms all over the world and our school pan program in Trinidad and Tobago should be improved and not removed!

[jerome ebenezer clarke]

I had wanted to mention this ealier,,,,,a minister of culture and education ought to be a musician,a calysonian,,a steelpan player,,arranger,,,tuner,,or amusicant in the whole,,a lover of music with insight of the culture and background,,,with no  sides taken or bias minded,,with no sides taken regardless of race or origin,,,

[Bugs]

The writing is on the wall Barry.  I remember how they treated Starlift Youth on the Montreal Festival situation.

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[Glenroy R Joseph]

Recently, I saw a video of a debate  on race in Trinidad, during which Sat Maharaj said that one has a choice between becoming a doctor or becoming a steelband player.

.He further said that Indians like to "beat book"  while Africans like to "beat pan"

He also said that they were trying to impose a musical instrument on the Indian community by creating a Pan Theatre in a new school that was built, which they(the Indian community) did not want.

Sat Maharaj is a well known and powerful cultural and religuous leader of the Indian community of Trinidad and has a substantial following.

It is a dirty little Trinidad secret that this attitude reflects the opinions of many in Trinidad..

So if the development is true under the current administration of T&T, I won't be surprised.

[Bugs]

Glenroy the Trinidad panmen took a serious beat down and cut-ass in 2011 during panorama when they are strongest in member interest. Who are they going to call? "Ghost busters?"

bugs