A British school punished a teacher after she told a rowdy class of 7-year-olds that Santa Claus is fake.

Many of the children went home in tears after the substitute teacher told them, "It's your parents who leave out presents on Christmas Day."

"My lad was in tears and so was everyone else in the class -- especially as it was so close to Christmas," one parent said. "I thought it was wrong. He was distraught about it. He's only 7 years old and it's part of the magic of Christmas to him."

School officials sent a letter to parents explaining that the teacher had been reprimanded.

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