An Indiana middle school teacher sparked fury when he allegedly told his students that they were “acting like monkeys in a zoo.”

The educator, who teaches fifth grade at the Merrillville Intermediate School, made the remark during class on Feb. 24, which forced his students to go straight to the principal while incensed parents brought up the incident at a subsequent board meeting, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Dexter Suggs, who has served as the school superintendent for the past two years and is black, said the teacher’s words were not meant to be interpreted as racist – but suspended with pay pending an investigation.