A New Mexico teacher was placed on administrative leave after he allegedly told his fifth graders he raped his first wife, KOAT reported.
Outraged parent Margie Brooks told the station her son told her about the disturbing comment made by his Hawthorne Elementary public school teacher, who remains unidentified, to his fifth-grade class last week.
"I made him explain it to me over and over because I just couldn't fathom a teacher discussing this with 11-year-olds," she told KOAT.
The teacher "had stated in front of the whole classroom that he had raped somebody," Brooks said.
A few students reported the alleged comments to school officials, the station reported.
Albuquerque Public Schools confirmed the teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave while officials and police investigate the students' claims. The district did not release any more details about the incident.
Brooks is glad the matter is under investigation, but she feels the district should have acted sooner.
"The minute that allegation was made by these kids, I would have done something about it," she told the station.
As of Friday no charges had been filed against the teacher.
