Teacher fired for allegedly bullying student over Pledge

BLUE ISLAND, Ill. (AP) - A suburban Chicago teacher has been fired for allegedly bullying a student into standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Eisenhower High School driver's education teacher Vince Ziebarth says he was terminated March 16 after being told he made "inappropriate comments" to a sophomore student.

Ziebarth told the Daily Southtown (http://trib.in/2nKFvM1) that he told the student if he chooses to sit during the Pledge he will not sit in a driver's education vehicle. Ziebarth said he wasn't given a specific reason for his firing, adding he was not under contract, and was not a tenured teacher.

The student's mother contends Ziebarth violated her son's First Amendment rights.

School officials have declined to comment on personnel issues involving Ziebarth.

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Information from: Southtown Star, http://southtownstar.chicagotribune.com/