Principal resigns after Florida students shown Michelangelo statue

[SerendipityJane]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65071989

I saw this. It's utterly bizarre.

This sort of thing is what makes me sceptical when people claim children are being shown pornography in schools and apparently it's all part of the curriculum now.

It is pornography or "pornography" something they just don't like

Well now it's defined, it can be outlawed. Along with the rest of the renaissance and indeed enlightenment. Remember your fundamentalists (a word redolent with meaning when you break it down) reject anything non biblical. So the earth orbiting the sun is also a no no.

When you have heard a terracentric denounce a flat earther as "denying science" you really know you should be looking for a Cheshire Cat and a caterpillar smoking a hookah.

David's penis is not even erect. Unlike the knobs of those drag queens who read stories to toddlers.

It's a crazy world.

The Principal had to resign cos one parent is clearly a fucking idiot?

Renaissance art is clearly not pornography.

Ridiculous, but really nothing to do with this board. Maybe the religion board would be more apt for this one?

This is literally a Simpson's episode.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itchy%26Scratchy%26Marge

I think there is an intersection of a Venn diagram here.

It's like something out of the Simpsons episode on censorship. Clearly going too far.

Not that I have a problem with censorship in a school library the same way we have age certificates on films.

My own art class I think we were exposed to HR Giger. Amazing art but a lot of erections and it's kind of weird stuff.

Not that I have a problem with censorship in a school library the same way we have age certificates on films.

There is a universe of clear blue water between "censorship" and "classification". It was an early example of Orwellian double speak when the British Board of Film Censors (who did not have the power to prevent a film being seen) were rebranded as the "British Board of Film Classification" which did. I think there was a Yes Minister observation about such developments. The War Ministry becoming the MoD rings a bell.

I have no problem with classifications. I have every problem with censorship. Quis custodiet custodes ipsos and all that

To be fair, I think Michaelangelo was pretty subversive. David is huge and you get the feeling that the intention was erotic.

Having said that, I think it would be lost on children. Just like me not understanding what Grease was all about until I watched it as an adult.

Where sex ed is banned, girls and women suffer. This hysteria and preteens seeing a photo which includes a flaccid little willy, and focusing on that r rather than the powerful and graceful art, is part of banning sex ed there.

Small penises were a marker of character and intelligence in Greek art.

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-ancient-greek-sculptures-small-penises

To be fair, I think Michaelangelo was pretty subversive. David is huge and you get the feeling that the intention was erotic.

I wouldn't have said so. (Donatellos David, maybe. )

I’d so like secondary age children in U.K. schools to have a teacher who would show them great art like this.

They must be seeing nudity, or near enough, and goodness knows what else on television and the internet.

The BBC article links to local press reports, it's only the principle who is claiming this is why she was asked to resign and states the school board did not give her a reason.

The Chair of the school board said he had been advised by lawyers not to comment about reasons the resignation was requested.

It's interesting that both the BBC and local press go on to discuss the expansion of the "don't say gay' bill.

I have no idea what the truth is but I think there is more to it than is being reported.

www.tallahassee.com/story/news/education/2023/03/23/tallahassee-classical-principal-out-after-complaints-about-david-statue-lesson/70039104007/

It's a strawman comparison. This is very different to the UK and what rishi is looking to review. Our tories are practically socialists compared to USA republicans. Plus tras have got a lot further there bizarrely alongside or perhaps not so, the eroding of women's rights.