RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — A suburban Albuquerque teacher who told a black student that Santa Claus is white has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Rio Rancho school district spokeswoman Kim Vesely confirmed yesterday that the teacher is out of the classroom while the incident is being investigated.
The teacher's comments came after students at Cleveland High School were told they could come to class dressed as Santa, an elf or a reindeer.
Michael Rougier says when his ninth-grade son, Christopher, arrived with a Santa hat and beard, the teacher asked, "Don't you know Santa Claus is white? Why are you wearing that?"
The incident happened the same week that Fox News Channel's Megyn Kelly said both Santa Claus and Jesus were white.