U.S. teacher tells 6-year-olds there's no Santa Claus

Guess what, kids? There's no such thing as &to=http://english.pravda.ru/society/2002/07/26/33252.html' target=_blank>Santa Claus!

That was a suburban music teacher's holiday message to Monday to first-graders, who are about 6 years old. The remark that angered parents and prompted the school district to issue a pro-Santa statement, KDFW-TV reported.

Several parents made angry phone calls to Richland Elementary School in this Dallas suburb after the teacher spilled the Santa scoop.

"When you take a 6-year-old and tell him, you got to spend how much time to get him to believe again. The damage is done," parent Michael Millett said.

Later, however, Richardson school district spokesman Tim Clark said he had good news.

"The teacher did hear from Santa Claus himself, who heard about the situation and let the teacher know that the spirit of the holidays is alive and well and to pass that message along to the students," Clark said.