Italians were surprised by the dismissal of a US principal who was fired for displaying an image of Michelangelo’s renowned sculpture David to students following parental complaints labeling it as “pornography.”
Hope Carrasquilla, the recently appointed principal at Tallahassee Classical School in Florida, faced termination after three parents raised concerns about the content of an art lesson she conducted.
The art lesson on Renaissance art, which featured works such as “David,” “Creation of Adam,” and “Birth of Venus,” all showcasing nude figures, led to Carrasquilla being given an ultimatum by the school’s board chair, Barney Bishop, to resign or face termination.
The decision to sack Carrasquilla sparked confusion and anger among Italians, given that masterpieces like Michelangelo’s David are treasures of Renaissance art housed in Italy.
Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, criticized the incident as “ridiculous,” expressing support for the teacher and the importance of teaching art as a pillar of civilization.
In response to the invitation to Florence, Carrasquilla expressed gratitude and hinted at the possibility of accepting the offer to visit the city and be recognized by the mayor.
The controversy surrounding the incident also drew attention from Cecilie Hollberg, the director of the Galleria dell’Accademia, where the David is displayed, who emphasized the misunderstanding of art and culture behind the notion of labeling such works as pornographic.
Following the school’s turmoil, a new policy was enforced mandating parental notification two weeks prior to any potentially contentious curriculum, addressing concerns raised by some parents over communication and teacher turnover issues.
Chairman of Tallahassee Classical’s school board, Barney Bishop, affirmed that while the statue’s photo played a role in Carrasquilla’s departure, other undisclosed factors were also considered, emphasizing parental rights to be informed about controversial topics in education.
