A campaign has been launched to support a teacher suspended from a York secondary school.
More than 120 people have signed a petition calling on Millthorpe School to reinstate English teacher Joe Brothers.
It has been started by an unnamed parent who says the teacher was disciplined for arguing against school budget cuts which have “wreaked havoc” at the school.
The petition states: “He hasn’t just been a teacher to our children but also an advocate for their rights and welfare.
“The recent suspension of Mr Brothers by Excel Learning Trust for dissenting against these detrimental budget cuts is an affront to free speech and utterly reprehensible.
“It underscores an atmosphere where fear supersedes the right to voice out concerns affecting academic welfare.”
The parent says the budget cuts have resulted in larger class sizes.
And they say “the decimation of material resources has generated a sub-optimal learning environment, contrary to what our children deserve”.
The petition concludes by saying: “Stand with us in demanding Excel Learning Trust and Millthorpe School remedy this injustice.”
One parent who has signed said: “Mr Brothers is excellent. He taught my son.
“We can’t afford to lose great teachers, especially one who is speaking up for the profession and for our children.”
The Excel Learning Trust runs six York schools including Millthorpe, as well as the Inspire Academy.
A spokesperson for Excel Learning Trust said: “We cannot provide public comment on any employment matters as these are confidential between individual employees and the trust.”