The Italian city of Florence paid homage last weekend to the American teacher Hope Carrasquilla, fired for showing her students images of Michelangelo's David, considered "pornographic" by some parents. The mayor of this city that was the birthplace of the Renaissance, Dario Nardella, received this former teacher from the Tallahassee Classical School in Florida at the town hall, awarding her with recognition, and then they participated in a meeting on art with the director of the Academy of Arts and of Drawing, Cristina Accidini, among others.
"A few weeks ago she was attacked for having shown her students David by Michelangelo. Today she receives recognition in the name of art and culture from the City Hall of Florence. Art, civilization and those who teach it deserve respect," tweeted the alderman.
Nardella and the teacher were seen on the balcony of the consistory, the Vecchio Palace, just above the replica of the mythical sculpture (the original is kept in the Academy), before which they were later photographed.
"I'm sorry for what happened, which I had not foreseen, but it has caused many things to the school and not all of them have been positive (...) I hope that the teaching of Renaissance art will not be a problem for anyone again," he said today the teacher to the media.
The "recognition" consisted of a diploma in which his "commitment" to the transmission of values "without fear" is commended. "For his commitment to the education of the young generations in beauty and harmony through Art, for recognizing the importance of transmitting that same harmony to the social harmony of a community, for his determination to defend learning and, in doing so, , in defending the same values of open-mindedness, understanding and dialogue that embody the very spirit of Humanism and the Renaissance, without fear of change", the document reads.
Last month the US press released the story of Carrasquilla, a school principal from Tallahassee, the capital of Florida, who was forced to leave her position after having shown the work of the biblical king naked in class.
The teacher, after 20 years in teaching, explained that the reason was that the sixth grade arts program included classic sculptures of nude characters such as David, something that parents and other managers did not like.
The school's president, Barney Bishop, confirmed to the media that he gave Carrasquilla an ultimatum and explained that he supports the creation of a law that gives parents more control over the education their children receive during primary education.
