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Thursday, April 25, 2024
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Downstate teacher fired for stepping on US flag

By  Associated Press
   
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MARTINSVILLE — An eastern Illinois teacher has been fired for stepping on a small U.S. flag during a lesson last month.

The Mattoon Journal-Gazette reports the Martinsville School District board voted 6-0 Thursday to fire English teacher Jordan Parmenter. Martinsville is about 80 miles southeast of Champaign near the Indiana state line.

The district placed Parmenter on leave after the May 15 incident.

Parmenter has said he used the flag as a pointer during a lesson on free speech at Martinsville Junior-Senior High School. A student complained that the teacher was being disrespectful, and Parmenter said he then stepped on the flag as an example of free speech.

Parmenter declined comment about being fired. He said he plans to speak to his union representative.

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