With a sling swung against his shoulder and his hip jutted out in defiance, Michelangelo’s David remains a timeless symbol of the fight against tyranny. The tale of an outmatched underdog against a vicious bully was deeply personal to the city of Florence. They saw the statue as a representation of Florence’s defense of civil freedoms against the oppressive Medici family and rival city states. In Florida, this powerful statue has taken to headlines recently for reasons that make its original purpose as relevant as ever.

Hope Carrasquilla, a principal at Tallahassee Classical School, recently was forced to resign in lieu of parents’ complaints about their children being shown an image of Michelangelo’s David in an art history class without prior consent. One parent specifically complained about the sculpture’s nudity and went as far as labeling it as “pornographic material.” The administration had intended to notify parents of the statue’s inclusion in the lesson through a letter, but it was never sent due to a “series of miscommunications.”

With an official invitation to Italy for Carrasquilla from the mayor of Florence and an SNL skit on television featuring “David’s” perspective, this local affair has spiraled out of control and turned Florida into an international laughingstock. It has specifically sparked controversy surrounding the extent of parental involvement in education, which now has been embedded into Florida’s law with the notorious “Don’t Say Gay” bill. 

This situation is indicative of the close-mindedness and overall lack of nuance surrounding Florida’s current political climate. Yes, Michelangelo’s David does include male genitalia, but it is also a remarkable artistic accomplishment. When you looks at its expressive marble details, you can’t help but feel a wave of awe and inspiration wash over you. Reducing such a vital representation of the Renaissance’s brilliance to pornography is beyond insulting. 

There is an evident danger in giving parents more power than certified educators on what their child can and cannot be taught. To meet its intended purpose, education should be an entirely objective construct. Garnering a well-rounded understanding of the world is important to intellectual development. Narrow-mindedness has no room in education.

With smartphones, children can access just about anything. By making the statue seem taboo, you are essentially guaranteeing that all eyes will be on it. This decision is simply motivated by political theater, for which education has unfortunately become ground zero. As a result, kids are left caught in the culture-wars crossfire.

Michelangelo’s David is also a symbol of youth and its power. With the wave of book bans and curriculum restrictions hitting Florida’s schools, future generations must rise up and bring attention to this obvious show of tyranny. This statue primarily depicts the triumph of good over evil. Despite how scary and intimidating our Goliath in Florida might be, it only takes the efforts of a single David to take them down.