Broward - Larkdale Elementary teacher accused of punching, spanking students

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----- Forwarded Message ----To: Undisclosed List Sent: Thu, March 10, 2011 12:16:02 AMSubject: Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Larkdale Elementary teacher accused of punching, spanking students

Larkdale Elementary teacher accused of punching, spanking students

March 9, 2011 By Cara Fitzpatrick

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/educationblog/2011/03/larkdale_elementary_teacher_ac.html

Fort Lauderdale, Florida - A Larkdale Elementary teacher has been accused of spanking children with rulers and punching two 7-year-old girls in their arms.

District officials confirmed that Torrance , 41, a second-grade teacher at the Fort Lauderdale school, has been under investigation since last Thursday for an allegation of battery involving a student. was removed from the classroom Tuesday and will work at an administrative site during the investigation, said Nadine Drew, a district spokeswoman.

couldn't be reached Wednesday for comment, despite calls.

Drew couldn't confirm details of the accusation. But a mother, Adriene , said punched her 7-year-old daughter in the arm for talking during a lesson. She said her daughter's friend also was hit in the arm.

said her daughter also has seen spank other students in her class with rulers.

She reported those claims to the school principal on Feb. 18, she said.

After the incident, asked that her daughter be moved to another classroom. The school moved her on Feb. 21, but now said she wants her moved to another school. She said she was dismayed by how long it took district officials to remove from the school after she reported the incident.

"The staff is more favorable to the teacher," she said.

The school principal, Valoria Latson, couldn't be reached for comment, despite a call. Her secretary said Latson left early because of an ill family member.

According to district records, has worked in the district for 13 years and earns $46,100 a year. He has worked at Larkdale Elementary since 1999, according to the district.