I presume preaching would have been acceptable

Not exactly a new story, though I hadn't heard about it before.

N.Y. Teacher Fights Modern-Day 'Witch Trial'

The story is in the news because the woman sued the school for $2 million for her 2001 firing. It's a bit of he-said/she-said story, but the principal at the time has admitted that he believed her to practice witchcraft.