He has been teaching for 38 years and has been at the school for six

In the 19th century the letter was deemed obscene and not published

the letter 'Advice to a Young Man on Choosing a Mistress he wrote in 1745' - telling a man how to choose an older woman companion

An Oklahoma history teacher faces losing his job for having a Benjamin Frankiln poster with a controversial quote based on 'choosing a mistress' on the wall of his classroom.

Steven Alcorn, 62, who has taught for 38 years, was suspended from Marlow High School last week for having a picture of a cat alongside the phrase: 'In the dark, all cats are grey.'

It is paraphrasing a letter the Founding Father wrote to a friend in 1745 called 'Advice to a Young Man on Choosing a Mistress' - urging a man he should chose an older woman companion.

Steven Alcorn was suspended from Marlow High School in Oklahoma last week for having a picture of a cat alongside the phrase 'In the dark, all cats are grey' in the classroom. It is a quote from a letter by Benjamin Franklin (right), written in 1745, advising a young man that he should choose an older mistress

In the passage, the politician writes: 'It is impossible of two women to know an old from a young one. And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the pleasure of corporal enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior.'

In the 19th century it was deemed obscene and was not originally published in his original letters.

Alcorn, a Civil War reenactor, has been working at the school for six years and it is believed he had the poster up since he started.

Richard O'Carroll, the teacher's attorney, told the Duncan Banner: 'My client was teaching history accurately.

'Just as Ben Franklin was a great man in terms of science and a founder of our nation, he was still a man. People need to know these things, not just the myths and legends, but who they are.

'We hope that cooler heads will prevail,' he added. 'There is still time for the school board to do nothing. If they do make a recommendation, we are looking forward to a full and fair hearing before the school board. We expect an exoneration.'

Career: The 62-year-old, who has been a teacher for almost 40 years, is believed to have had the poster in the classroom since he started at Marlow High six years ago

Alcorn told the paper that he wanted to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and get back into the classroom.

A Facebook group supporting his re-instatement has already reached 302 members and his wife Jera has also posted her support.

Former student Amber Abrego told KFOR News 4 she never thought the quote was a big deal and thinks Alcorn's suspension is unfair.

'I think it`s awful, why would you want to do that to someone who has been so loyal to their school, who came to every single football game?

'I hope that he gets to keep his job. I hope that he gets more respect out of this because he deserves it. He`s a good man, he's a good teacher.

However Brian Jacob, who works in a bait shop in the city, admitted he could see where the school is coming from.

Decision: Alcorn's disciplinary hearing at the school is set for January 20 when he will hear his fate. He says he hopes the issue will be resolved quickly so he can go back to work

'Nowadays everything`s really touchy on subjects like that. Suspended? I can see it,' Jacob said.

The letter is taught in schools today because it was used in the 20th century to overturn U.S obscenity laws.

It wasn't the only letter of Franklin's to be censored in the US. His satirical piece 'Fart Prouldy' was excluded from the majority of his published works.

Attorneys used it to prove that if it had been mailed or published, one of the country's Founding Fathers would have been prosecuted.

Education officials from Marlow Public Schools declined comment on Alcorn's case because it is a personnel issue and a pending legal matter.

According to the Banner, Alcorn's disciplinary hearing has been set for January 20.

The public school board is set to have already discussed the matter but have not released any details.