A teacher told a fourth-grade boy to remove the religious symbol from his forehead, and the Davis School District is investigating the episode, FOX 13 reported.
William McLeod told the station he was the only student at Valley View Elementary School in Bountiful wearing an ash cross on his forehead.
“A lot of students asked me what it is," William told FOX 13. “I said, ‘I’m Catholic. It’s the first day of Lent. It’s Ash Wednesday.'”
Then a teacher approached him.
“She took me aside and she said, ‘You have to take it off,’” William described. “She gave me a disinfection wipe — whatever they are called — and she made me wipe it off.”
William’s family complained to his principal. Davis School District spokesman Chris Williams told FOX 13 that the teacher could face discipline.
“When a student comes in to school with ashes on their forehead," Williams said, “it’s not something we say, ‘Please take off.'”
William said he received a handwritten apology and candy from his teacher.
Editor’s note • The Salt Lake Tribune is a content-sharing partner with FOX 13.