OKLAHOMA CITY -- A Christmas tree decorated by elementary school students has been removed from Oklahoma's Capitol after complaints by a lawmaker.

Each Christmas, Gov. Brad Henry asks Oklahoma schools to decorate a tree. That tree is put on display in the Capitol, and the governor picks one as his favorite.

Westwood Elementary's tree came dressed for the season, complete with snowmen, stars and Santa Claus. But it didn't deliver Christmas joy to everyone, reported KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City.

Students at the Oklahoma City school added state lottery tickets as ornaments. Teachers went to various convenience stores and got used lottery tickets, which were cut out into various holiday-centric shapes.

One state representative took offense.

"I certainly think it inappropriately twists the meaning and the spirit of Christmas," said Rep. Randy Terrill, a lottery opponent.

According to Oklahoma City Public Schools spokeswoman Sherry Fair, the "lotto tree," as it's being called, was the result of classroom discussion about the lottery and its impact on education.

"They had been learning about the lottery and how it was going to benefit education," Fair said.

"The children didn't mean to offend anyone," she said. "They just wanted to have some fun decorating a tree that they thought people would enjoy looking at as they looked at trees in the Capitol."

What causes Terrill concern is the message that a Christmas tree decorated with lottery tickets gives kids. He shared his concerns with Westwood's principal, who then asked the governor to take down the tree.

Fair said they decided to remove the tree "because our principal was concerned that our children and our name were just in the middle of some controversy that we didn't want to be in the middle of during the holiday season."

Terrill said that removing references to gambling games from the Capitol's most traveled floor was the right thing to do.

However, the representative was quick to note that neither students nor teachers were to blame.

"The blame for this clearly rests with the governor," Terrill said. "The lottery was his idea and, ultimately, he is the one responsible for all that stems from it."

The governor's office confirmed they complied with the Oklahoma City Public School's request but they declined to comment further.

Terrill said he intended to visit Westwood Elementary to teach students the true meaning of Christmas and to explain how children from disadvantaged backgrounds can achieve great things.