UPDATE: Teacher reportedly rescinds resignation

MIDDLETOWN -- A Middletown High School South teacher was reportedly forced to resign after he showed his class a video critical of Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump.

Joseph Ventre, a history teacher at the Monmouth County high school, was asked for his resignation after at least one parent complained that he showed a video from HBO's "John Oliver's Last Week Tonight" that lampooned Trump, News 12 reported.

In the video, which has been viewed more than 24 million times on YouTube since Feb. 28, Oliver criticizes Trump for a variety of his assertions and business deals.

John Oliver criticizes Donald Trump on "Last Week Tonight" in February.

No other political videos featuring other presidential candidates were shown in class, News 12 reported.

The New York Post reported that sources said school administrators asked for Ventre's resignation after receiving the complaint or complaints over the video, and that he agreed to step down after the school year.

Many parents and students have since stepped up in support of Ventre, reportedly packing a Board of Education meeting on Wednesday and an online petition to save his job had collected more than 2,000 signatures as of Friday morning.

"Although this is a violation of his contract this should not end his career at South," said one of Ventre's students, who started the petition. "As a student in Mr. Ventre's history class I have learned more about life and history than ever before. He has an extremely positive effect on the lives of students in and out of his classes."

One mother who posted on the petition called the situation "outrageous."

"This does not warrant a resignation!" she wrote. "My son said he is a fantastic teacher and has an amazing personality! Someone you love being around!"

Another poster said it would be a "huge mistake on the Board of Education's part" for Ventre to lose his job over showing the video.

"God forbid a teacher use a topical and funny skit to get students engaged in a political discussion," the post said. "It seems like he was just trying to actually educate and involve the kids, which is more than can be said for most teachers."

Ventre reportedly did not respond to requests for comment and school administrators also declined to comment due it being a personnel issue that "pertains to a staff member's letter of resignation and is confidential," New 12 reported.

Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.