Butt out !

RICHMOND, Va. -- High school art teacher Stephen Murmer wants school officials to butt out of his artwork.

He said he's been suspended by Chesterfield County, Va., school officials because of his unusual style.
Outside of class, Murmer bills himself as the "butt-printing artist."(the site is down or overloaded) He plasters his bare backside and genitals with paint and presses them against canvas.

His cheeky abstract art and flora designs sell for hundreds of dollars each. As an artist, he goes by the name "Stan Murmur," and appears in disguise in photographs and videos promoting his art.

But Murmer is also known as a popular, joke-cracking art teacher at Monacan High School.

Chesterfield County school officials have suspended the teacher whom they said may be setting a bad example for students through his outside artistic activities.

Chesterfield County schools spokeswoman Debra Marlow said school system regulations state that teachers must set an example for students through their personal conduct.

Murmer was placed on administrative leave on Friday. Murmer has contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia for help.

The ACLU said Murmer has the constitutional right as a private citizen to paint however he chooses. The school district won't comment on the suspension because it's a personnel issue. The group said the suspension goes against Murmer's First Amendment rights.