Officials say nearly a dozen southwestern Illinois high school students were suspended because of comments they posted on Twitter.

The comments included one about a female teacher and another that was an alleged threat to Granite City High School.

Granite City School District Superintendent Harry Briggs says all threats are treated very seriously. He declined to provide details of the comments which were posted during school hours. At least ten students were suspended.

Briggs says the students' suspension times ranged from five to 10 days. He says school officials sometimes monitor Twitter.

The suspensions sparked student outcry online with students tweeting that the suspended students were treated unfairly.