A teacher at the Martinsville School in eastern Illinois was fired after he stepped on a small U.S. flag during free speech class. The school board voted 6-0 to dismiss English teacher Jordan Parmenter. Martinsville is located approximately 80 miles southeast of Champaign near the Indiana state line, according to The Chicago Tribune.
"I know that what I did reflects poorly on the school and I feel terrible that what I did has hurt and offended others. I want to do whatever I can to make amends to those that I have harmed," Parmenter said in a letter to the school board, according to CBS News.
The school had placed Parmenter on administrative leave after he used the American flag as a pointer during a lesson on free speech on May 15. A student complained that using the flag in such a way was disrespectful, after which Parmenter stepped on the flag in order to demonstrate an example of free speech.
"I made a spur of the moment decision which I know was a terrible error in judgment. I believe that ideas such as the nature of symbolism and freedom of expression are valuable topics to discuss in the classroom and that surprise can be a useful tool to use when engaging students, however in this instance I chose a very poor way of addressing this subject," his letter read, according to the Journal Gazette.
"I have loved working for Martinsville and have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to help our students achieve success," the teacher said in his apology letter to the school. "I assure you that nothing of this nature will ever occur again."
