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usually referred to in the masculine, "the new man." Lavan (1967)
reviews Guevara's statement that the Revolution needs cadres of new
people who are loyal to the government, capable of making the correct
dialectical decisions, and of upholding the moral character for which
the Revolution stands. "To build communism, you must build new men as
well as a new economic base" (Lavan quoting Guevara, 1967, p. 126).
To do this, "Society as a whole must be converted into a gigantic
school" (Lavan, 1967, p. 127). Lavan continues quoting Guevara,
They (the masses) follow their vanguard, consisting
of the party, the advanced workers, the advanced
men who walk in unity with the masses and in close
communion with them. The reward is the new society
in which men will have attained new features: the
society of the communist man. (1967, p. 123)
Most of Castro's speeches contain the same ideas about the new man
who is, ". . fully committed to equality, brotherhood, and solidarity,
devoid of selfishness and with no need for material incentives, a
human being ready to sacrifice and constantly filled with heroism,
abnegation, and enthusiasm" (Valdes, 1972, p. 447).
Black et al. (1976) report that the government has accepted the
responsibility of providing all Cubans with work at a decent salary,
free schooling, and medical care so the people can be free of the
tyranny of daily care and dedicate themselves to enhancing the
collective prosperity.
Conflicting opinions on educational integration
Montaner (1981) sees this drive toward collectivism from another
perspective. He finds that although the government tries to educate
everyone through the sixth grade level, and offers secondary school