Duluth High School student Sam McNair, suspended for a year for teacher hug

A GEORGIA high school student in the US has been suspended from school for a year and won't graduate on time for hugging a teacher.

Sam McNair, 17, was told last week that he violated Gwinnett County Public Schools' rules on sexual harassment, CBS Atlanta reports.

The teacher at the centre of the complaint said McNair's cheeks and lips touched the back of her neck and cheek.

McNair denies he kissed the Duluth High School teacher or sexually harassed her.

The discipline reports says that the teacher had previously waed McNair about inappropriate touching but he denies this.

Sam McNair, 17, is shown hugging a teacher who filed a complaint. He was then suspended for a year and won't get to graduate on time.

"Something so innocent can be perceived as something totally opposite," said McNair.

His mother, April McNair, said the school district should have informed her if her son had been waed about inappropriate touching before they derailed his university plans.

Sloan Roach, a spokesperson for Gwinnett County Public Schools, would not comment on McNair's case but said in a statement that "hearing officers consider witness testimony, a review of the known facts, and a student's past disciplinary history ... when determining consequences."

McNair has a discipline record and previous suspensions but not for sexual harassment and he does not believe he should be punished for showing affection.

"You never know what someone's going through. A hug might help," he said.