Replica of Michelangelo's David in front of Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy
In a statement shared by Florida's Voice, Alex Lanfranconi, communications director for the Florida Department of Education, said, "Florida encourages teaching about the classics and classical art and would not ban its use in teaching." Hope Carrasquilla, a principal in Florida, was forced to resign last month after showing a picture of a Renaissance sculpture to sixth graders. This story has been all over the internet lately, inspiring articles and even a Saturday Night Live skit. It was probably inevitable, given the obvious reasons why it would go viral: the setting, Florida, which is always a source of controversy, male nudity (which needs no explanation), and, on a more serious note, the fact that it is at the center of a debate in the American South over what "age-appropriate" education is.
In an interview with Slate that got a lot of attention, Barney Bishop III, the chair of the school's board, said that the problem wasn't with David but with the "egregious" failure to tell parents that their children might see "potentially controversial" art. The charter school uses a "classical education curriculum model" that emphasizes going back to "core virtues" and making the "Western tradition" the most important thing. Conservatives say that in recent years, public schools have focused too much on social issues like race and gender identity. In response, Republican lawmakers in Florida have tried to make sure that all high schools offer courses in classical education. Because of the drama, the teachers at Hillsdale College, a Christian college in Michigan, cut ties with the Florida charter school. It won't be able to use the classical education curriculum from Hillsdale College anymore because its license was "revoked and will expire at the end of the school year," a college representative said.
The Florida Department of Education has said that, for now, the state government cannot stop schools from teaching Renaissance art. The department said, "The problem at Tallahassee Classical School is between the school and an employee. It has nothing to do with a state rule or law."
Selena Mattei
