People's online daily reports that, Mr Xie told the male pupils from Nanguang High School in Fujian to stay behind after class on Thursday because they were being too loud.
He made the students crouch on the floor while he played on his phone and put his bare feet
on their backs.
Mr Xie, who has been a teacher for 27 years, was dismissed after the Nan'an City Education Department saw a picture on social media.
Mr Liu said the footstool photo was taken as a joke and added that Mr Xie, who was in charge of disciplining the male students at the school, 'performed well in his work and was extremely talented'.
Nan'an City Department of Education said it took immediate action.
It requested the school apologise to students and parents, and said that student counselling should also be offered.