[imagesource:iol]

Grantleigh School, situated on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast just north of Richards Bay, is a private school with a “Christian ethos”, “set in a tranquil country environment offering old world values with new world standards”.

Sounds like the kind of place you can really broaden your horizons, then.

It’s also at the centre of a heated debate over a Grade 12 pupil’s artwork, which was displayed at the school’s end-of-year prize-giving ceremony.

According to IOL, the artwork includes “several drawing where the Ronald McDonald clown has been inserted into various famous Christian paintings like the Last Supper and the Creation of Adam”.

One parent, in particular, took offence, and his video is now being widely shared across social media:

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It’s now been reported that the parent is a pastor from Richards Bay, Andrew Anderson, who intends to organise a protest, with the details released later today.

With the video spreading and the school attracting attention, Andrew Norris, the Grantleigh Executive Head, said an internal investigation has been launched:

“The project filmed and featured is part of a final submission to the IEB and was displayed in the school foyer as part of the year-end exhibition,” Norris said. “We have taken cognisance of the allegations made on social media; the matter is currently subject to and internal investigation. We want to reiterate that comments made is not an accurate reflection of our school and the situation referred to and we reserve our rights in this regard. Curro welcomes all comments that are constructive and contribute to discussions in a meaningful manner. However, we do not condone cyber-bullying, religious intolerance, hate speech, derogatory language, misrepresentation and comments reflecting negatively on our brand on any social media pages,” he said.

Amongst the outrage, there were some voices in support of artistic freedom, although they seemed to be drowned out by general cries of embracing Satan and the like.

First, he/she/it came for the Zeitz MOCAA museum, and now this. Satan’s been busy, I see.

I have my thoughts on this (surely, people have better things to moan about?), but I shall exit stage right.

[source:iol]