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 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.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.