(Source: CNN)Silver Spring, MD -
SILVER SPRING, MD (CNN) – An elementary school teacher was arrested for allegedly choking and punching nine of her students.
The students told police they were chocked, kicked, punched, scratched and squeezed by their first-grade teacher, Susan Burke.
Police arrested Burke, a teacher of 10 years and a mother of three, after investigating the accusations of physical assault for some time.
According to police, the investigation began in early January after one student came forward.
The accusers told investigators they were assaulted more than once during the month of December.
Parents were quick to react to Burke's arrest, calling the incident "ridiculous."
"You don't expect this to happen to your kids while you are at work," said one parent.
Carrie Ann Pels, whose little brother is one of the students claiming to have been assaulted, is upset the allegations of abuse involved so many children.
"He is 6-years old," Pels said."Why would you want to choke a 6-year-old child?"
Burke is being held by authorities on a $75,000 bond.
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