Tallahassee is the state capital of Florida and its student population of over 70,000, makes it officially a “college town “. When the head of Tallahassee Classical School resigned, Tallahassee made the headlines all over the World.
As a “Hillsdale College curriculum school”, it is required to teach Renaissance art in the sixth grade. It would be difficult to do the subject justice without reference to Michelangelo, one of the Renaissance's greatest artists, and his famous statue of David.
But when the time came, three parents made complaints to the school, one of them claiming that the school had been showing their child pornographic images. Fearful of litigation and on advice from the school's employment lawyer, the Chair of the school board called the Principal, Hope Carrasquilla, into his office and told her to either resign or be sacked.
Reading a rather full account in the Washington Post, it seems there is also a significant political angle to the story. However, by far the majority of the parents at the school were as shocked by the resignation news as most people around the World. They complained about the lack of communication from the school and frequent teacher turnover.
Talking about her resignation, Carrasquilla said she was not given a reason but believed the lesson on the Michelangelo statue played a role in what happened. This was later confirmed by Chair of the board, Barney Bishop, who told reporters that he had given Carrasquilla an ultimatum following complaints from three parents who believed the material on “David” was “controversial” and not age-appropriate for their children.
The school board has now introduced a rule that requires parents to be notified two weeks in advance of any proposed subject that is “potentially controversial,” Parents will be able to review the planned curriculum and the photos that go with it, and a reminder notice will go out one week in advance.
Bishop said he does not think “David” is controversial, noting that he studied Renaissance art in Italy 50 years ago. He added that while 97 percent of the parents had no problem with the art class, he emphasised that parents’ rights and concerns on what their children are being taught trump whatever he thinks about the lesson.
There have been arguments nationwide about what children should be taught about race, racism, gender and sexual orientation and the rights of transgender students as well as the appropriateness of books available in school libraries and classrooms. 25 states have passed 64 laws about what children should learn and do at school and Florida has passed more than its share.
As Kent Brockman from the Simpsons asked, “Is it a masterpiece or just some guy with his pants down?”
Edwin Kilby, BN's International Director, added:
Many people, not just Naturists, will be astonished at the apparent sexualisation of a piece of classical art, widely seen as one of Michelangelo’s greatest works, simply because the subject is naked.
And, according to a report in Associated Press, the museum in Florence that houses the David statue invited parents and students from the Florida school to come and see it for themselves. Florence Mayor Dario Nardella also tweeted an invitation for the principal to visit so he can personally honour her. Confusing art with pornography was “ridiculous,” Nardella said.
Cecilie Hollberg, director of the Galleria dell’Accademia, where David resides, expressed astonishment at the controversy.
“To think that David could be pornographic means truly not understanding the contents of the Bible, not understanding Western culture and not understanding Renaissance art,” Hollberg said in a telephone interview.
Photo by Alex Ghizila on Unsplash
