BRADENTON – The mother of the student in a controversial Facebook comment wants a harsher punishment for the teacher who wrote it.

In a press conference today at the Manatee County School District’s administration building, the mother, Lisa Wade’s attorney called the verbal reprimand Lauren Orban, a Rogers Garden Elementary teacher, received after the incident a “mere slap on the wrist” and “an injustice.”

“I believe that teachers should be held to higher standards, and should not be commenting about children on Facebook,” said Sasha Watson, one of the attorneys retained by Wade.

The case against Orban had been sent to the state’s Office of Professional Practices Services, said Tim McGonegal, superintendent of Manatee schools. That agency oversees matters related to teacher certification.