A school is facing criticism after it barred special-education students from participating in a spelling bee.

Mendis Brown, principal of IS 252 Middle School Brooklyn, New York, refused to let two students participate in the contest, reportedly saying "You don't have the brains."

Witnesses say they overheard conversations where Brown insulted 8th graders Lamarre St. Phard and Christian Cartagena, calling their participation in the bee "disgusting."

According to the New York Post, Brown held a school-wide spelling bee to determine a new winner, and St. Phard was eliminated. But when that winner got cold feet, Brown again refused to allow the second place finisher, another special education student, to advance instead deciding to send no one to the district-wide bee.