A teacher was suspended on paid leave on Monday after he allegedly told his 11-year-old students that he raped his first wife. The teacher, who had not been named, was teaching the fifth grade at Hawthorne Elementary in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when he made the chilling remark around a week ago. Some students were so distressed by what they heard, that they immediately went to the school office to report the teacher, ABC7 reported. A male teacher reportedly told his fifth grade at Hawthorne Elementary in Albuquerque, New Mexico (pictured) that he raped his first wife . Mother Margie Brooks, whose son was in the class, told the local station that she was horrified by what the teacher told the students and felt the school waited too long to deal with the problem. She said: 'The minute that allegation was made by these kids I would have done something about it.' Daily Mail Online was awaiting comment from the elementary school on Thursday. A spokesperson for Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) confirmed that a fifth-grade teacher, who had been full-time employee at the school since January, was suspended on paid leave on Monday. An internal investigation was taking place into the alleged employee misconduct with the APS police department. The teacher has worked in the school district since August last year. He subbed as a special education teacher at Taft Middle School in August. He then worked at Hayes Middle School as a maths and science teacher from October to January. Mother Margie Brooks, whose son was in the class, told the local station that she was horrified by what the teacher told the students and felt the school waited too long to deal with the problem .
The teacher was teaching the fifth grade at Hawthorne Elementary in Albuquerque, New Mexico .
Some students were so distressed by what they heard they immediately went to the school office to report the teacher .
The teacher is on paid leave while the public school district and police investigate .