DANIA BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Ahilyn Zamora’s five-year-old son, Jaylin, used to love school, enjoying writing his name and engaging in activities like coloring in books. However, that changed when he confided in his mother about an alarming situation at Collins Elementary in Dania Beach.
“He was enjoying writing his name and just doing things in books, coloring. Now he doesn’t even want to pick up a book,” Zamora said.
According to Jaylin, a teacher’s aide had been physically disciplining him with a ruler, which left a profound impact on his attitude toward school.
“The moment he said the teacher takes me to the cave and hits me, I pulled my phone out,” Zamora said.
Zamora said she had the following recorded conversation with her son to gather more information:
Zamora: “Did she do it soft? Did she spank you soft?”
Jaylin: “No, hard.”
Zamora: “Did you cry?”
Jaylin: “Yes.”
Jaylin told 7News what he experienced, something heartbreaking for his mother to hear.
“A ruler, with numbers and my teacher whooped me with that,” he said.
The disturbing revelation left Ahilyn Zamora devastated, especially since this wasn’t the first time she had to confront such an issue at the same school.
“Devastation all over again. It’s not the first time I’ve dealt with this at that school, unfortunately,” Zamora said.
In 2016, it was the school district that informed Ahilyn when they suspected her son Damian was a victim of abuse.
“They told me his mouth was being covered to keep him from screaming,” Zamora said.
While the teacher involved was removed from Damian’s case, Ahilyn Zamora was never informed about the outcome. Now, in Jaylin’s case, the school district has taken action.
In a statement to 7News, the school said “At this time, a teacher’s aide has been removed from the classroom and will be reassigned to a position away from students and the school pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Zamora remains distraught about the incident, and fears for her son’s safety.
“It gives me a knot in my throat, makes me want to break down and cry… and I can’t because I gotta be strong for them,” Zamora said. “We need to come together for these kids because it’s not right. It’s not right, it’s not right.”
A certain type of corporal punishment is legal in 19 school districts across the state of Florida, however, Broward County is not one of them.
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