Earlier in the fall, a North Carolinian 9-year-old boy was controversially suspended for calling a female teacher ‘cute’. But now, the principal who took the action has been forced to resign in the midst of criticisms that the decision was too heavy handed, writes Fox News.

Emanyea Lockett, of Gaston’s Brookside Elementary School, was originally given a three-day suspension from the school after he was overheard by a substitute teacher commenting to another that he thought his teacher was “cute”.

Emanyea’s mother, Chiquita Lockett, was originally told of the suspension by phone. She was then sent a letter detailing what the school alleged that her son had said.

The school claimed, among other things that the boy made suggestive comments, calling the substitute teacher “fine” and that he continued to call other students the ‘n-word’ after school officials warned him not to, writes Chron.com.

However, after a district investigation, officials have found that Emanyea did nothing wrong.  The school board then gave principal Jerry Bostic the option to resign or have his contract terminated.

Bostic, who had been working for 44 years, said:

“I didn’t show a history of making problems like that. I’ve had the best of evaluations my entire career and because of some syndicated columnist in New York or California, I don’t have a job.”

School superintendent Reeves McGlohon said:

“He told me he had made the decision he was going to terminate me or drop me into an assistant principal position.

“I admit I made some errors in what I did, but to fire me or to demote me with 44 years in it, it just doesn’t make sense. To me he was a very heartless man, and he did it because of politics.”

“After a thorough investigation by school officials involving the suspension of a fourth grade student at one of our elementary schools, it has been determined there was no sexual harassment,” said a statement by the district, writes News One.

“We regret this situation happened,” the district said.

“The superintendent has attempted to contact the family to offer an apology to the parents and student. The school system is also sending an official letter of apology to the parents and student.”

Emanyea’s mother, Chiquita Lockett, said, “This is something that everyone needed to see, just to see what’s happening within our school systems.”

She is thought to be likely to pursue legal action.