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"A Titusville day care, where workers are accused of paddling at least three students with a ruler, could lose its license for good if the state has its way.The day care has been closed since April, when the allegations surfaced. But even though the state attorney declined to pursue criminal charges, the Florida Department of Children and Families said the day care violated its licensing agreement by allowing corporal punishment to take place.\"We stand firm that this agency, this facility, should no longer provide child care service in the community,\" said DCF spokeswoman Kristi Gray.In April, DCF received a complaint the director of Bethlehem Baptist Child Care, 86-year-old Evelyn Bell, struck a 5-year-old girl with a ruler on her upper thighs as a form of punishment.According to Titusville Police, the girl had \"visible bruises,\" and officers concluded Bell \"did intentionally inflict physical injury upon the victim.\"Police said seven of the nine children in the classroom knew about or witnessed paddling in the classroom.DCF said at least three children were physically disciplined, which violates the licensing agreement.\"Statute's very clear that child care facilities are prohibited from using any kind of physical discipline with children,\" Gray said.Erica Davis Griffin, who lives a few houses down and volunteers at the day care, said the accusations are untrue.Most watched video: Toddler crashes jeep, scampers home to watch cartoons\"This is a good woman and that's what the TV and news people need to hear,\" Griffin said. \"She is a good woman.\"Last month the state attorney declined to charge Bell, and other employees, because there wasn't enough evidence.Prosecutors said two employees denied the accusations, and they said it's not a crime for a person who has legal custody of a child to impose reasonable physical discipline.The day care will now go to court to challenge the state's attempt to revoke its license.Then and now: Florida colleges and universities"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wesh.com/article/day-care-workers-accused-of-paddling-children-with-ruler-police-say/4435444>