Student Crushed When Teacher Says He Can’t Play Santa Because He’s Not White [VIDEO, POLL]

Santa Claus has found himself in the middle of a race controversy.

A teacher at New Mexico’s Cleveland High School has come under fire after he told an African-American student that he couldn’t dress up as Santa because St. Nick is white.

The boy’s father, who said his son was "embarrassed," said even though the teacher called his wife to apologize, more needs to be done:

He needs to be fired. For him to make a comment like that, there has to be at a minimum prejudice in him, and we don't have room for that."

The school released a statement admitting the teacher made a “stupid mistake” and that “appropriate disciplinary action has been taken.”

The student’s family requested the boy be taken out of the teacher’s class, which he has.

This strange tale is merely the latest controversy regarding Santa's skin color, which has been something of a hot-button issue this holiday season.