PITTSFIELD (AP) — A central Maine school district has fired a substitute art teacher after she told her fourth-grade students they were stupid.

The teacher at the Vickery School in Pittsfield was fired last week.

Superintendent Dominic DePatsy confirmed the disciplinary action Thursday.

DePatsy said the teacher was a substitute and not on the full-time staff. The teacher’s name was not made public.

DePatsy told the Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1gwDeuy ) the move was made to ensure that all students feel “safe and respected.”

Parent Leah May, whose daughter is in the class, says the students were given a project and when some asked questions, the teacher started the insults. She says the teacher also called the kids “ignorant” and called one boy “retarded.”

The children told their homeroom teacher, who told the principal.