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It’s not uncommon for reality to overtake satire in the US.
The most recent example: a high school principal in Florida, USA, was forced to resign by the school board. Hope Carrasquilla has been accused of allowing “pornographic material” into the classroom. Her crime: She showed sixth graders a picture of Michelangelo’s statue of David in art class.
Discuss Renaissance with parents first
The privately owned Tallahassee Classical School is located in an arch-conservative area of the Sunshine State in the United States. Carrasquilla had only been in office for nine months when she was subpoenaed before the school board. There she was accused of admitting a “controversial subject” such as Renaissance art without prior consultation with her parents. According to the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper, the principal pointed out that the content of the lessons was required by law.
But the argument fell on deaf ears. She was told that three students felt “uncomfortable” at the sight of the 520-year-old bare marble statue. Their parents complained to school principal Barney Bishop about pornography in the classroom. He then gave Carrasquilla the choice of voluntarily throwing in the towel or being fired.
“Landed in the Middle Ages”
The whimsical episode is reminiscent of a 32-year-old episode of The Simpsons, an animated series about a fictional family in the fictional town of Springfield, which enjoys a cult following in the United States for its caustic sarcasm. In the episode “Itchy & Scratchy & Marge”, mother of three, Marge, starts a protest group against televised violence. But it is hijacked by fundamentalists, who eventually mobilize against the statue of David, which was to come to Springfield on a world tour.
Unlike the Tallahassee school board, Marge and the comic book residents finally realize their mistake in wanting to censor art.
After all, not all parents can understand the decision of the school board. Carrie Boyd has a daughter in third grade: “It feels like we’re back in the Middle Ages.”
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
