Tallahassee Democrat Editor William Hatfield has responded to TR’s request for a comment related to the story below.
Hatfield said that a Facebook comment by Tallahassee Classical Board Chair Barney Bishop – where Bishop said that the one of the parents called the art lesson “pornographic” – confirms the accuracy of the opening line in the Tallahassee Democrat’s original story. The opening line stated, “A local charter school principal said she was forced to resign after a parent complained a Renaissance art lesson was pornographic.”
However, Bishop’s comment does not say the the principal was fired because of the parent’s complaint.
In addition, the Former Tallahassee Classical principal Hope Carrasquilla, is quoted as saying she “never told reporters that a parent called the lesson ‘pornographic'” and “I never said I was fired because of this art lesson.”
Bottom line, someone is not telling the truth.
Original Story
Former Tallahassee Classical principal Hope Carrasquilla, who resigned from leadership at the school on March 20, told The Epoch Times that the reporting by the Tallahassee Democrat related to her relationship with the school is false.
The Tallahassee Democrat reported on March 23 that “A local charter school principal said she was forced to resign after a parent complained a Renaissance art lesson was pornographic.”
The statement refers to Michelangelo’s nude sculpture of “David.”
That article also stated that Carrasquilla “believes the catalyst for the ultimatum was complaints about an art lesson on the Renaissance period.”
However, in an interview with The Epoch Times, Carrasquilla said she didn’t understand how media outlets got the story so wrong. She never told reporters that a parent called the lesson “pornographic…I hate people think that somehow I’m spreading lies,” she said. “I never said I was fired because of this art lesson.”
A review of the Tallahassee Democrat article indicates there are no direct quotes from Carrasquilla using the word pornographic. In addition, there are no direct quotes from Carrasquilla stating that the art lesson was the reason she was forced to resign.
Rather, the statements in the article – relating to the use of the word pornographic and the fact the art lesson was the reason for the resignation – are in the reporters words, attributed to Carrasquilla.
The original story published by the Tallahassee Democrat went viral as many were outraged that the “David” sculpture was characterized as pornographic and that the principal was fired for approving the art lesson.
Tallahassee Reports has reached out to Tallahassee Democrat Editor William Hatfield for a comment.
UPDATED: Former Tallahassee Classical Principal Says Tallahassee Democrat Reporting is False added by Steve Stewart on
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Much like the issues we have with our current executive branch spinning lies and ‘look over there’s’ (don’t forget at the gas pump “I did that”)… white democratic liberals are constantly undermining this country.
But here’s the reality… there are even more moronic people that vote and hire these people… they are the issue.
You can hate Trump or Biden but when you boil it down, between no term limit congress and the morons who vote them in… one must ask themselves, how does Hatfield have a job? Sheep leading sheep to the cliff.
A hospice nurse was mauled by a pack of her patients pit bulls in Tallahassee on Saturday. All the people involved were black.
So, naturally the Tallahassee Democrat pretended it didn’t happen and isn’t news even if it did. The nurse is in bad shape… but at least we got six pages of why everyone should hate Ron DeSantis.
Hatfield needs to be beaten with a stick.
Sorry, Barney, that you had to deal with Superwoke Ana.
Many years ago, their FSU reporter had a similar reputation for getting things wrong. So her university contacts decided to tell Gabordick (who had hired her) that they would no longer talk to her! Of course, he had to throw her off their sinking ship.
I have posted at least twice before warning about this Superwokette’s questionable reporting, so I’m not the least bit surprised. The story has gotten them tons of clicks, so they’ll prolly reward her (free 1-year subscription to the Fake Newsocrat?) instead of firing her.
Geeze. It’s gone from a Barney Bishop CNN interview where, “Parents are supreme” to she can’t spell; to it’s those evil people in mainstream media.
What’s it going to be tomorrow?
Is there misogyny in this City’s water? If it’s not Jack Porter, it’s Kristen Dozier, if it’s not Kristen Dozier it’s the Tallahassee Democrat reporter… but, give $25 million of taxpayer dollars away or make another personal game giveaway of taxpayer money without having the necessary information and it’s okay. Really?
I believe one fact of the story that is correct that you can’t deny is more parents want you to resign than complained about the art lesson.
The same article I read in the Tallahassee Democrat I have read on other media sites.
Tallahassee Reports did not even report on this at all. Their first reporting on this was an opinion. When they did report they were only criticizing the Tallahassee Democrat; how can you criticize another news entity when you didn’t even report on it to begin with?
Again, parents are upset, the board is upset, news entities are fighting with each other, Tallahassee was embarrassed on the international stage, and the school lost their curriculum license. Did I get it right?
Thanks, Steve for working to set the record straight. The Democrat’s reporter is a joke and called me to say that she was upset because I was telling other media outlets that her story was wrong. She said to me that she read every quote to me and I confirmed them. I responded “yes you did” but it was all of the slanted and biased reporting that you did between the quotes. Her vindictiveness is shown as she misreports our Board meeting on March 27th. She did get the story correct today that we have been notified by Hillsdale about not being able to use their curriculum next year, but that decision may change once Hillsdale learns that they too have been bamboozled by the Mainstream Media into believing what was incorrectly reported. The entire narrative has been hijacked by her and the Far Left to fit nicely into their mantra that conservatives are banning books, and now we are banning art. Nothing could be further from the TRUTH!
I think there is a loss of focus on the crux of the matter. A principal was asked to resign or be fired so she did. He said, she said, they said, we said, TR said, TD said, what was not said, and so on and so forth.
Teachers are upset, parents are upset, the board is upset, the Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, is upset and Tallahassee did not fare well on the international stage.
The school lost their curriculum license.
Could this all have been avoided if they simply would have handled this in a more professional manner such as it the end of the semester?
Maybe Hatfield should self reflect and consider it’s possible intelligent Tallahassee readers don’t want to be condescended to and made into a joke by another blathering Mark Hinson piece of the fiftillionth Matlow / Ray- chicken little whine. Another back slapping piece about how brave TD is? No thanks. Great job Steve.
The biggest threat to our way of life is the uneducated stupid voter.
I was privy to one of the Democrats hatchet jobs.
Karl Etters seemed to purposely get everything wrong just to spin the story.
If you read an article by Etters do not believe a word of it.
Kudos are due TR. Validation is indeed a sweet reward for a job done right and a job well done.
Allow me to save you some time waiting for The Marxicrat editor to respond… “We here at The Marxicrat are aghast at this latest development; shocked I tell ya!”… (wait for it)… “… and we’re going to put measures in place to make sure this never happens again”… (at least until it does of course).
… is this one of those “forest through the trees” thingys? (insert good-natured wink here)
William Hatfield, Editor of The Tallahassee Democrat, will have to get back with Steve later. He’s a little busy right now trying to put out his “Liar Liar Pants On Fire” right now.
Interesting points. I hope you get clarification from the TD Editor. Some good points here.