28 March 2023 , 20:08
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Italians have reacted with shock after a US principal was sacked for showing students a picture of Michelangelo's classic sculpture David after parents complained it was "pornography".
Hope Carrasquilla became principal at Tallahassee Classical School in Florida only a few months ago but was fired after three parents complained about the content of an art lesson.
She would teach students a lesson on Renaissance art which includes "David" and "Creation of Adam" fresco painting, and "Birth of Venus", all which feature nude figures.
Ms Carrasquilla was told by the school's board chair, Barney Bishop, that she must resign or be fired.
The statue of Michelangelo's David and many other works of great Renaissance art are kept in Italy and the locals are perplexed and furious in equal measure about the response to children being taught about it.
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The fired principal has been invited to Florence to see the statue (Alessandra Tarantino/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Dario Nardella, Mayor of Florence, where the world-famous statue is kept, described the incident as "ridicolo" (ridiculous).
Writing on Twitter in his native language he wrote: "A Florida teacher was forced to quit for showing students photos of Michelangelo's David. Mistaking art for pornography is just ridiculous
"I will personally invite the teacher to Florence to give her recognition on behalf of the city. Art is civilization and whoever teaches it deserves respect."
Another social media user commented underneath saying: "Art has no greater enemy than the ignorant."
It wasn't just officials who mocked the decision of the board to sack the headteacher.
Sunday’s front page of the Italian daily publication Corriere della Sera featured a cartoon by a satirist depicting David with his genitals covered by an image of Uncle Sam and the word “Shame.”
A copy of the marble statue of Michelangelo's David is in Piazza Della Signoria square in Florence (AP)Responding to the invite to Florence, Carrasquilla said that she is “very honoured” by the invitations to Italy and she may accept.
“I am totally, like, wow,” Carasquilla said. “I’ve been to Florence before and have seen the David up close and in person, but I would love to go and be a guest of the mayor.”
Cecilie Hollberg, director of the Galleria dell’Accademia, where the 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.
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Following the spat at the school, the board implemented a new rule requiring parental notification two weeks in advance of any potentially controversial curriculum.
Some parents expressed frustration with the lack of communication from the school and the teacher turnover.
Barney Bishop, chairman of Tallahassee Classical’s school board, has told reporters that while the photo of the statue played a part in Carrasquilla’s ousting, it wasn’t the only factor. He has declined to elaborate, while defending the decision.
“Parents are entitled to know anytime their child is being taught a controversial topic and picture,” Bishop said.