New Mexico teacher placed on leave after telling black student that Santa Claus is white

A teacher in suburban Albuquerque has been placed on paid administrative leave after telling a black student that Santa Claus is white. The Associated Press reports that the teacher's comments came after students at Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, N.M., were told they could come to class dressed as Santa, an elf or a reindeer. When a ninth-grader arrived with a Santa hat and beard, the teacher reportedly asked, "Don't you know Santa Claus is white? Why are you wearing that?"