A secondary school teacher in Georgia has been suspended from school for calling the confederate flag a sign that an individual plans to marry their own sister.

The Richmond County School System launched an investigation after a teacher put a photo of the confederate flag on the board with a message saying: “A sticker you put on the back of your pickup truck to announce that you intend to marry your sister. Think of it like a white trash 'Save the Date' card.”

A student at Hephzibah High School was upset by the message so told her mother what had happened.

Melissa Fuller, the pupil's mother, raised concerns about the matter in a post on Facebook, where it was widely circulated and prompted discussion from other parents and local residents.

“A lot of [the discussion] is that it's not morally correct. It's unethical. It's just something you don't want to discuss today in today's world and especially inside of a classroom,” Ms Fuller told WRDW-TV.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

Ms Fuller said her daughter had been given an in-house suspension after wearing a belt featuring a Confederate flag buckle to school. She was also asked to remove the belt.

Ms Muller said: “If she can't wear that belt buckle, then why is it appropriate to make an assignment out of it?”

The teacher has now been place on administrative leave, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

The school district told WRDW-TV: “The Richmond County School System is committed to creating a diverse, equitable learning environment for all students.

“The language used in the example was unacceptable and has no place in our classrooms.”

The Confederate flag, first used during the American Civil War, serves as a major flashpoint in the US.

While some non-extremists continue to see the 13-star flag as an emblem of Southern history, it is highly offensive to many who argue it is synonymous with white supremacy, bigotry, slavery and the far right. It is regularly brandished by neo-nazis in the US.

A country and western music fan in Cheltenham in Gloucestershire was made to take down a confederate flag flying over his house in the wake of allegations of racism last summer.