The principal of a Florida school let go after failing to tell parents about a lesson
The Renaissance Art Teacher in Florida, a Charter School Principal Did Not Follow Procedure Before Giving a Lecture on Michelangelo’s “David”
A charter school principal in Tallahassee, Florida, did not follow procedure before a lesson on Michelangelo’s statue of David was given to sixth graders, school board Chair Barney Bishop III told CNN.
Agreeing with Carrasquilla’s assessment, Bishop told CNN that over time it had become evident the school needed to go in a different direction and with different leadership, and he had expressed that to her on many occasions.
“Our school is two and a half years old. Every year we show that picture in the Renaissance Art class taught to our sixth graders,” he added. The problem that arose in this instance was that the procedure for notifying parents of the upcoming lesson was not followed, according to Bishop.
A misconception to Bishop is that parental rights will determine what is taught. He noted that despite a few parents’ complaints about the “David,” the artwork will remain in the curriculum.
In the past few years, control of school curriculum has been fought over, both in Florida and the United States. On Friday, Republicans in the U.S. House passed national “Parents Bill of Rights” legislation to boost parents’ access to information about their child’s education.
As a public charter school, Bishop told CNN, “We agree 100% with what Gov. DeSantis is doing with education in Florida. He said that parents decide what their children learn.
“It does not mean that parents are telling us what we are going to teach their children. Parents will be made aware of what they are going to see and what they are going to discuss with their children when we show them. This gives parents the opportunity to say, ‘Wait a minute. My child isn’t old enough to hear that,'” he added.
If a parent has a problem we have to make sure that doesn’t happen because we need to follow the process. He said that the two-week notice and one-week notice was adopted because of this.
A Vatican lecture about the “purity” of the Florence Renaissance statue by Cecilie Hollberg: “The principal didn’t tell us about the lesson,” she told the Associated Press
Tallahassee Classical School enrolls about 500 students, and according to its website, it is a classical, tuition-free public charter school under Leon County Schools and governed by a non-profit board of trustees.
On Monday even the museum that houses the sculpture in Italy took notice. Cecilie Hollberg, director of the Galleria dell’Accademia, told the Associated Press that she was astonished at the controversy and welcomed the principal, school board, parents and student body to come view the “purity” of the statue in person.
The mayor of Florence Italy wrote on his account that whoever teaches such art deserves respect and invited the Florida instructor who was let go to be recognized.
“I made the assumption that the letter went out, and I didn’t follow up on it,” she told NPR. “It is my responsibility to make sure these things happen, but honestly we did not have to send out a letter about Renaissance art.”
According to Carrasquilla, two parents were upset they did not receive a letter and one parent complained more specifically about the nudity, equating it to pornographic material.
The school later sent out an apology to parents of the sixth grade class for the oversight. The art history teacher asked her students to not tell her parents about the lesson, which was off-color.
Bishop similarly said there were multiple concerns that led to Carrasquilla’s departure. He said that he could not explain further for legal reasons, but that he didn’t believe the principal was aligned with the school’s values and mission.
“I have always desired good for Tallahassee Classical School. I care deeply for the scholars, faculty, staff, and parents. I am not about promoting myself or a political agenda,” she wrote in a letter to the board last week.
The art history teacher said she had been unhappy with her for a while, but she was not given a reason for the ultimatum.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/27/1166079167/tallahassee-classical-michelangelo-david-principal-fired
Cara Wynn, who will be the interim headmaster for a school for Classical studies, and her desire to go to school
“It’s not the showing of the picture, it’s the process,” Bishop told NPR. “Parents are entitled to decide whether any topic, any subject, any use of particular sensitive words are going to be discussed in the classroom. If they don’t feel that it’s appropriate for the age of their child, they’re entitled to make that decision.”
According to her, as a mother and an teacher, parents and schools should work together. But she stresses that there needs to be a balance.
He said that they are going to teach it even if parents don’t like it. “But if they’re not in favor of it, we’re going to give them alternative curriculum.”
Cara Wynn was promoted to interim headmaster last week, and she will be in charge for the rest of the school year. Bishop said the board would evaluate her leadership skills and decide later if she would become the school’s leader permanently.
Meanwhile, Carrasquilla said she is unsure what she will do next. She said her dream of going to school for Classical studies have been dashed because she only worked at the school for two years.
She said she misses the teachers and students. I felt like I was supposed to be there. I love classical education and I want everyone to be taught that way, so I miss that.”
