Archive for Monday, July 2, 2007
Former LHS teacher pleads guilty to sex with student
Meredith Kane, 24, was in her first year of teaching at LHS when she was arrested
July 2, 2007
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Last year, Meredith Kane was in her first year of teaching at Lawrence High School. She pleaded guilty in July to one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. Kane apologized on July 2, 2007, for her actions.
A former Lawrence High School teacher pleaded guilty Monday to one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a student in Douglas County District Court.
Meredith Kane, 24, who was in her first year of teaching at LHS, was arrested March 16 for having sexual relations with the 15-year-old boy.
Prosecutors said the acts occurred between August and mid-March.
"During that time period, I did have sexual intercourse (with the victim) in Douglas County," Kane told Judge Stephen Six.
Another count of aggravated indecent liberties and two counts of criminal sodomy were dismissed.
"We agreed to take a plea in the matter," said District Attorney Charles Branson. "Simply put, she plead guilty to the most severe charge she could plea to. We're pretty happy getting a guilty plea to the primary offense."
Kane could face 55 to 247 months in prison. Her attorney, James Rumsey, asked for access to the victim's psychological records. A hearing set for 9 a.m. July 23 will determine whether or not he will have access to those files.
Kane's sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 12.
2 July 2007
at 3:54 p.m.
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Sigmund (Anonymous) says…
She is no Debra Lafave or Mary Kay Letourneau is she.
2 July 2007
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guapaloca (Anonymous) says…
Come on, leave her alone. You don't know the whole story. If you did, you wouldn't be so harsh.
2 July 2007
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srj (Anonymous) says…
She's not going to jail. She might get put on “the list” and good luck getting another teaching job.
2 July 2007
at 4:14 p.m.
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NDNJAYHAWKER (Anonymous) says…
I hope she get what she deserves! I don't feel sorry at all for people who violate any child, she needs to be put on the sex offender list and serve some time to realize what she did was not right and may be hurtful to that boy later in life! Man, there is so many sick people it is just terrible and she is added to it!
2 July 2007
at 4:22 p.m.
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jackie (Anonymous) says…
He is 15. There is no lasting damage. He got laid, big deal.
2 July 2007
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ramsrevenge (Anonymous) says…
Ewwwwwww….maybe he should be the one that's getting into trouble!
2 July 2007
at 4:25 p.m.
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guapaloca (Anonymous) says…
witch hunt, witch hunt. everyone's so uptight about sex. Get over it. He's probably fine. Plus… what's this deal about the psychological records? Interesting.
2 July 2007
at 4:27 p.m.
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CeeTee (Anonymous) says…
I am curious if the bloggers that are so quick to forgive, would have done so if it were a male offender?
I agree with NDNJ- she's sick.
I feel sorry for any parent and child that would have to go through this ordeal. I am glad she was caught I hope she is punished to the full extent of the law.
I hope lawmakers take note of this case and pass tougher laws against child offenders. If children are not safe with their teachers what are we to do?
2 July 2007
at 4:30 p.m.
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Sigmund (Anonymous) says…
“what's this deal about the psychological records?” It will help or hurt in sentencing depending on damage or lack of damage to the victim….
2 July 2007
at 4:30 p.m.
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costello (Anonymous) says…
“I hope lawmakers take note of this case and pass tougher laws against child offenders.”
What “tougher laws” do you think we need, CeeTee?
2 July 2007
at 4:31 p.m.
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Aiko (Anonymous) says…
Equal Rights!
2 July 2007
at 5:07 p.m.
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BigDog (Anonymous) says…
I hope she gets what she deserves.
And I am sure the boy isn't bragging to his friends about this one.
2 July 2007
at 5:25 p.m.
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guapaloca (Anonymous) says…
Some of you make me absolutely sick. Is it true that all you have to do is sit on the computer and harass someone you don't know? If you have something thoughtful and insightful to say, say it… otherwise, shut your mouths. By making mean, hateful, and ugly comments, you just show how trashy and ignorant you really are. I happen to know her and she's really an awesome person. Everyone ADORED her at LHS and she was a wonderful teacher. I feel sorry for her.
2 July 2007
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local_support (Anonymous) says…
Right thinker is correct. She clearly has some psychological problems and I hope she gets help for them.
2 July 2007
at 5:32 p.m.
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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…
That was weak LJW. She must have a friend that works there. All I did was make a joke that other people have already made in other ways. Weak I tell ya!
Hey guapaloca, I understand that you want to protect your friend, but she made a huge mistake! Let her take her licks and learn form it. Any other criminal would have to do the same thing. You try to use that same logic you're using now when a male teacher has sex with your 15 year-old daughter and see if it still holds up in your mind. Tell me then if being “nice” is required when you fall on the other end. You said we were ignorant. What is ignorant is expecting the public to turn a blind eye when a teacher in our schools is sexually abusing a student. Totally ignorant!!!
2 July 2007
at 5:33 p.m.
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bambi (Anonymous) says…
We should be able to send our children to school and trust their teachers will protect them.
Do you really believe a 15 yr old having sex with their teacher would not have lasting implications?
As for Ms Kane, did she not think about what this would do to her career? I guess she is young and has plenty of time to find a new career, but, what kind of job can she get now that she has a record?
2 July 2007
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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…
So, tell us the whole story guapaloca! If it will change our minds.
2 July 2007
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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…
Amen, bambi!
2 July 2007
at 5:35 p.m.
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bookemdano (Anonymous) says…
What about this story makes it justifiable to make childish comments about this person's weight? It appears to have absolutely nothing to do with the story and unfortunately only serves to illustrate how a lot of adults never leave behind their junior high school mentality.
As for the actual case, this woman should receive the same punishment a man would for the same offense (all else being equal). Whether the boy who was molested enjoyed it or not is not relevant to the case—which is of a teacher abusing the “teacher/student” relationship.
I don't know what it is about these cases that causes people to lose all sense of logic about them. Yes, it is a common fantasy of young males to screw their teachers, but that's all it should be—fantasy. A teacher actually having sexual relations with an underaged student (whatever the genders involved) is against the law for many good reasons and has a solid legal precedent for justification.
So this woman broke the law and should be looked upon no differently than a man who did the same. Folks in the “armchair jury box” should leave their own fantasies out of it.
2 July 2007
at 5:40 p.m.
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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…
Pardon us, bookemdano. We shall strive to pursue a more proper course of commentary. Thank you for the enlightenment. Oh, and piss off.
Unfortunately, the rest of your comments are true so I can't bash those.
2 July 2007
at 5:41 p.m.
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katiep (Anonymous) says…
www.myspace.com/mmmere That's her myspace.
2 July 2007
at 5:49 p.m.
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MJG (Anonymous) says…
Looks like she's in good company:
http://www.failingschools.net
2 July 2007
at 5:51 p.m.
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trinity (Anonymous) says…
yes this woman needs to be dealt with-severely.
but as for you morons who have made personal, denigrating comments about her appearance? yeah, keep hidin' behind those keyboards. losers. several of you i'd held in fairly high regard until just now; now, not so much.
2 July 2007
at 5:56 p.m.
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Jamesaust (Anonymous) says…
It will be interesting to compare/contrast the sentencing from the infamous J. Martin case of a few years back. Given the “clarification” presented by the Kansas Supreme Court in that case, I believe that there won't be any pooh-pooh-ing over the contribution (or lack thereof) by the minor. The law is absolute on the point of statutory rape. It would, however, be of some interest to know just how much of a predator she is versus someone with some serious mental/personality issues.
There are no facts disclosed that wouldn't point to a sentence at the bottom of the scale, with some mandatory counseling and follow-up. Of course, I can't imagine a school would allow her to teach again.
2 July 2007
at 5:59 p.m.
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jayhawk1234 (Anonymous) says…
maybe she just misunderstood the true meaning to being a “hands on, teacher”
2 July 2007
at 5:59 p.m.
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guapaloca (Anonymous) says…
Not that this makes what she did any less severe, but he wasn't even her student and he is in love with her. She made a mistake… give her a break.
2 July 2007
at 6:03 p.m.
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ModerateOne (Anonymous) says…
guapaloca (Anonymous) says: I happen to know her and she's really an awesome person. Everyone ADORED her at LHS and she was a wonderful teacher.
IMO, if you are a teacher who has sex with a 15 year old boy, then you are neither an “awesome person” nor a “wonderful teacher.”
2 July 2007
at 6:05 p.m.
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introversion (Anonymous) says…
I think this whole thing is pretty rad. When my girlfriend was 24, I was like, 11.
2 July 2007
at 6:17 p.m.
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guapaloca (Anonymous) says…
She is an awesome person. They wouldn't have hired her at LHS if she wasn't really special. They hardly ever hire first year teachers. She's an extremely smart, outgoing, funny, girl. Something was going on in her life where she was struggling to the point of losing control. Life isn't black and white. The law doesn't take that into consideration. Obviously neither does the public.
2 July 2007
at 6:33 p.m.
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jumpin_catfish (Anonymous) says…
moderateone, apparently words don't mean what they once did.
again guapaloca she is neither awesome nor wonderful period! maybe you would think its ok for teachers to have sex with even younger students! our society must be tough on this kind of behavior.
2 July 2007
at 6:43 p.m.
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sweettrue2 (Anonymous) says…
Do half of you even have children? And if you do; would you feel this person to be awesome or wonderful, or would you be able to justify any of this if it happened to your child? Would accept that slap on the wrist penalty? Or would you feel comfortable with sending your child back into school with someone like this? No offense to the hiring abilities to the school system, obviously they had no idea. But who does? Can you predict this sort of thing coming back looking at someone? All in all she KNEW the student was underage and she did it. big problem. Out in the streets 9 times out of 10 you can't tell by looking at a person that they are underaged. But a school teacher, SICK she knew.
2 July 2007
at 6:49 p.m.
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DonnieDarko (Anonymous) says…
ndnjayhawker (Anonymous) says:
Man, there is so many sick people it is just terrible and she is added to it!
******
Perhaps Meredith can help you with your “grammar” before she goes to prison.
2 July 2007
at 6:49 p.m.
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75x55 (Anonymous) says…
Is LJW so desperate for ad hits that they have to allow blog postings on EVERY news story?
Pathetic.
2 July 2007
at 6:51 p.m.
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BABBOY (Anonymous) says…
I think this is first time I have been censored by the ljworld. Another day, another first. I do not see it however. Read the sports posts during basketball season. Not even close.
Trinity: I do not hide behind keyboards, but I am sorry if I offended you (assuming you got to read my comment which was pretty funny for a fat joke).
My comment was addressed at the teacher who pled guilty (no dispute that she did it) to having sex with a fifteen year old child. As teacher, she owed the student a duty to protect him. She abused her position for sex and that makes her fair gain to be attacked — particularly in this forum which should not be taken seriously. This is person that pled to it and no slack was given meaning that she pled to the worse offense. Thus, this is not some person awaiting trial where her guilt is in question whereas I would agree with you that her weight is off limits because her wrongdoing was still at issue.
I note the ljworld which had a problem with my word usage of “pig” and “piggy” had no problem plastering on the front page of the paper this very unflattering picture in which Ms. Kane appears to be smiling or laughing about the incident.
Anyway,
2 July 2007
at 6:53 p.m.
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katiep (Anonymous) says…
This happened awhile back at Southwest Jr. High when my sister went there. The teacher was a 30-something male and the girl was 15. They're married now…. this kinda stuff happens all the time. It doesn't make it right… but I can see how it happens. Imagine, a 23 year old teacher who is used to spending all her time with her peers, is suddenly placed into a high school setting where the students act and LOOK her age. She is going to make connections with the people she has the most in common with (which are usually not her co-workers). No wonder this happens all over the country. I don't think she's a pedophile or a predator… but she did cross a line and should face some consequences. I don't think prison is the answer though.
2 July 2007
at 6:59 p.m.
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katiep (Anonymous) says…
BABBOY… who said she abused her position FOR sex?? All she admitted to was that she had sex with him. It may not even been about sex. She probably wasn't out searching for 15 year old boys to have sex with. Plus, she was originally charged with 4 counts… and it was brought down to only one.. so obviously it's not as serious as they originally thought.
2 July 2007
at 7:09 p.m.
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sweettrue2 (Anonymous) says…
Or obviously she had a well paid lawyer who did their job
2 July 2007
at 7:13 p.m.
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armyguy (Anonymous) says…
Van Halen, 1984, sounds good to me…
2 July 2007
at 7:16 p.m.
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geekin_topekan (Anonymous) says…
Bookemdano's is a strip club near Ottumwa Iowa.
Which coincidently has a very hands-on policy as well.
Carry on.
2 July 2007
at 7:17 p.m.
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crazyks (Anonymous) says…
And none of you are even considering that she may have pled guilty because she knew she didn't have a snowball's chance of being found not guilty in court?
Considering how the “court of public opinion” is being played out right here on this forum, gee, I wonder why she might have thought she couldn't receive a fair trial…
2 July 2007
at 7:34 p.m.
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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…
Thank you (someone) for posting the myspace page link. Led to even further enlightment on her “personality” and “qualities”. Always good for a teacher to have “friends” on myspace posting drinking pictures and flipping off the camera. How mature of a person is/was she really? I'm leaning towards “not very if at all”. Keep her away from my kids. Glad to have her gone before she savaged one of mine.
But, I could be wrong because a “friend” said she was a great person and super teacher. My kind of teacher!
2 July 2007
at 7:38 p.m.
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crazyks (Anonymous) says…
How many 23-year-olds do you know, I_have, who are not teachers, who don't still think it's funny to post drinking pictures and flipping off pictures online?
How many “mature” 23-year-olds do you know who are not teachers?
2 July 2007
at 7:42 p.m.
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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…
Many, many, many. Teachers are held to a higher standard as well. They are what is called “an example” to our youth (who by they way are internet savvy and know about myspace and will surely google their own teacher). Black and white, baby, black and white. Game over.
2 July 2007
at 7:44 p.m.
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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…
Taking off the gloves and retiring on that easy question.
2 July 2007
at 7:46 p.m.
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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…
Besides, I dont think the “she was a good friend and a good person until this happened” argument would have held in court anyways. Oops, I guess she knew that. She plead “GUILTY!”.
2 July 2007
at 7:53 p.m.
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katiep (Anonymous) says…
wow… I_Have… you're just looking for things to pick on her about. Who cares if she has a myspace friend who is flicking off the camera. She's not responsible for that. Plus… she's 24… that's legal age to have a drink. Teachers are still human beings.
2 July 2007
at 7:55 p.m.
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i_have_only_valid_opinions (Anonymous) says…
Katie…you must be young and on the way to maturity as well. It's simply not OK for a teacher to have that in public where her students can access it. Is it? Surely not, Katie. Tell me our society hasn't dived that deep.
2 July 2007
at 7:56 p.m.
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jimincountry (Anonymous) says…
Just another complementary episode that exhibits the sad state of “western” civilization's/society's degeneration……………rottening from within, isn't it?
2 July 2007
at 8:10 p.m.
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sourpuss (Anonymous) says…
Why is it when a 15 year old girl has sex with a 24 year old man, she is the traumatized victim of rape, yet when a 15 year old boy has sex with a 24 year old woman he is fine because he just “got laid”? Shouldn't whatever punishment this deserves be the same, regardless of gender?
A bit of a double-standard here, no?
2 July 2007
at 8:27 p.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
Ahh, good times. I knew on the LJW message boards there would be a few people defending a rapist. Oh, she's female. Sorry, it's only rape if the non-minor is male. Anyhow, she plead guilty. Case closed. Wait for sentencing and then we can bitch about that.
I do have one question… who advised her that wearing a black and white mini-skirt to court was a good idea? This is not implying anything about her weight/looks/whatever else folks have been tossing about. She stood accused of a sex crime. One would assume wearing something more, I dunno, typical of someone being charged with a very serious crime would have been a better idea.
2 July 2007
at 8:32 p.m.
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beatrice (Anonymous) says…
guapaloca, Meredith Kane is far from being an awesome person. Awesome people, and truly awesome adults don't have sex with minors. Period. Awesome isn't the word that comes to mind when thinking about an adult, even if it is a young adult in her twenties, who has sex with a minor too young to have a driver's license.
The word that does come to mind is pedophile. That is the correct word. The person you are defending might be many things, but she is a pedophile who sexually abused a child and deserves every bit of public humilitation and scorn that can be thrown at her. If we can't protect our children, then we have no worth even calling ourselves a society.
There is no “more to the story.” Meredith Kane had sex with a minor. That is the story, in its entirety. The details do not change this. Meredith Kane has admitted to having sex with a minor, thus she is an admited pedophile. It is now time to throw away the key.
Now, if you really believe that a high school would be totally awesome if awesome teachers were having sex with all their awesome students, then you are an awesome fool.
(I feel like taking a shower having just read this story.)
2 July 2007
at 8:37 p.m.
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nostudme (Anonymous) says…
Learning requires teaching.
2 July 2007
at 8:37 p.m.
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Fatty_McButterpants (Anonymous) says…
Okay, seriously, I understand the whole argument about a teacher being in a position of power, yada, yada, yada. I don't get the whole “he (the victim) is just a child” argument. Do none of you remember being in high school?? All you ever wanted to do was get some action. This kid finally does - with the teacher no less - and people start worrying about the psychological trauma he suffered. The kid had the time of his life and, though she's a bit heavy in the hoof, he's probably revered by his classmates. “Dude! You nailed the teacher! Teach me, Obi-wan!”
2 July 2007
at 8:40 p.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
What Bea said.
I don't see any grey area in this at all. A person in a trusted position abused that trust and committed a felony. Awesome Person are not the first two words that come to my mind.
2 July 2007
at 8:46 p.m.
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katiep (Anonymous) says…
Public humiliation… hmmm. Reminds me of a book… The Scarlet Letter. Sounds familiar. Have we really not progressed from the Puritan times?
2 July 2007
at 9:04 p.m.
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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…
I also find it sad that she went through all the work to be a teacher, got hired right away, then blew it. (no pun intended).
Bad deal, gal.
2 July 2007
at 9:14 p.m.
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CindiCat (Anonymous) says…
I have NEVER seen so many “posts” deleted because of violation. Whoa Buddie. What did you guys say?? Never mind:.I do not want to know.
I am throwing my 2 cents in::::.I am sick and tired of reading about teachers taking advantage of and sexually abusing/assaulting/having sex with their students. It's repulsive beyond words.
What the H*** are these teacher's thinking? I get it:.they AREN'T thinking.
This young woman can kiss her teaching career good bye. All that time and money spent going to school to become a teacher and it is evident that she didn't learn one flippin thing.
To the young woman (guapaloca) who is defending this teacher::.You got that LOCA part right. I suggest you have a little “sit down” with your parents and let them know that YOU think this teacher is “awesome” and that you see no problem with this at all. Please let the rest of us posters know how that conversation went.
“valid opinions @ 5:32”, “bambi @ 5:33”and “beatrice @ 8:32” hit the nail on the head.
And yes, I do have children:.I am speaking from a Mother's point of view. If something like this would have happened to ONE of my children, I would be one angry MUTHER in more ways than one.
2 July 2007
at 9:48 p.m.
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packrat (Anonymous) says…
She should be in jail for rape for 5 to 10 years and be a registered sex offender for life. She should never be allowed around teenage boys again.
2 July 2007
at 10:19 p.m.
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hypatia (Anonymous) says…
I wonder if these comments are from actual Lawrence citizens or from Farkers.
Yeah, this made fark.com. Woo!
2 July 2007
at 10:20 p.m.
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dagopman (Anonymous) says…
SB 324 was recently passed in Kansas and signed into law effective 7-1-07. The new law says if you are a teacher and have sexual relations with a student, regardless of age, regardless of consent, because you are in a position of power, authority and trust, you have committed a felony.
2 July 2007
at 10:22 p.m.
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dagopman (Anonymous) says…
www.fstribune.com/story/1220013.html
2 July 2007
at 10:56 p.m.
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lubyloo (Anonymous) says…
Meredith Kane's myspace page unapologetically says “Call me Hester Prynne” (implying that the community is puritanical for having laws against having sex with children). Hester Prynne had sex with an ADULT. Meredith had sex with a CHILD. That's the difference. Also, it sounds like Guapaloca may work at LHS — I sincerely hope not though because Guapaloca seems to think that what Meredith Kane did is ok as long as you're “awesome.” I hope that's not the consensus over there.
2 July 2007
at 11:23 p.m.
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justme2 (Anonymous) says…
I do believe that guapaloca is actually M. Kane. It wouldn't suprise me at all.
She will never teach again-she's now a felon. And the student was only 14 years old when she started messing with him. And what more can there be to the story? On the six oclock news she alluded to the fact that there is more to the story. What more can there be? She had sex with a child.
2 July 2007
at 11:38 p.m.
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cellogrl (Anonymous) says…
okay guapaloca, I am a teacher and I believe what she did was sick and wrong. It doesn't matter if “he wasn't even her student and he is in love with her.” It's off limits to date students no matter what their age or if they love you period. She may have a wonderful personality, but she seriously needs some help if she thinks that what she did was okay, and apparently if you do too, you need help as well. I can only hope that you also are not a teacher since you seem to think that this behavior is all right. I hope she gets the help that she needs but she does need to be punished for what she did.
2 July 2007
at 11:43 p.m.
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cellogrl (Anonymous) says…
I_have, in some ways, I have to agree with you here. If she has those pictures, she can at least set her profile to private. It's not difficult.
2 July 2007
at 11:46 p.m.
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Kaie11 (Anonymous) says…
It matters not how nice of a person she is, or if she is supposedly a “good teacher”, the point is she commited a crime.
Sex with a minor, is still sex with a minor whether with or without consent.
She was obviously hired because they thought she would do well. And maybe she was a wonderful teacher, but the fact is, she ruined all of that knowingly. She's an adult, she knows right from wrong, or at least she should.
2 July 2007
at 11:47 p.m.
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dagopman (Anonymous) says…
This teacher must be met with the full force of the law. There is never any justification for a teacher to have sex with a student (child). That type of conduct cannot be tolerated in our society.
2 July 2007
at 11:53 p.m.
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cellogrl (Anonymous) says…
By the way, her teaching license will be revoked. She won't be able to teach again. What a waste of an education.
3 July 2007
at 12:02 a.m.
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GitS (Christian Hinton) says…
Wow. So many deletions.
I have to say that although I believe that comments about her physical appearance are egregious and unnecessary my first thought upon seeing her picture on the front page was something along those lines. Shame on me.
I agree with most of the other posts here - this case is pretty much cut and dry. She had sex with a minor and admitted to it. She should be (justly) punished. I was in high school not to long ago, and even though most 15-year-old boys “just want to get laid” they are, in fact, just that - boys. They are not adults, and are not mature enough to make such decisions. Meredith Kane is an adult, and clearly abused a position of trust and authority.
Sorry if none of that was new.
3 July 2007
at 12:21 a.m.
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lunacydetector (Anonymous) says…
yet another teacher in our illustrious school district caught doing naughty things with a student? what is it, like one teacher a year gets nailed? pardon the pun.
i thought priests were supposed to be bad? this teacher/student sex abuse pales in comparison. have any lawsuits happened, or are school districts exempt from being sued? what kind of psychological screening do teachers get before they get hired?
3 July 2007
at 12:26 a.m.
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manyblessings (Anonymous) says…
You aren't a “good teacher” if you are not respectable and a good example to your students. A 20 something woman sleeping with a young teenager is hardly acceptable, let alone someone who is in a position of authority whom parents are entrusting their children's education to. Regardless of whether this young boy had a crush on his teacher, it is her responsibility to behave as an adult and not take advantage of him. She should be treated the same way a male pedophile would be. No one who is smart enough to graduate with a teaching certificate is too stupid to know that sexual relations are not allowed with their students. She knew full well what she was doing was wrong and deserves to suffer the consequences of the law.
3 July 2007
at 1:09 a.m.
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shirinisb (Anonymous) says…
a 15 year old is a child. children shoudln't be getting laid whether they want to or not, that's still abuse. this woman should have an example made of her like NO other.
sick
sick
sick
sick
woman
3 July 2007
at 1:19 a.m.
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MyName (Anonymous) says…
Gawd, I feel like I'm reading the ravings of a lunatic. I don't know any of the people in question, but it's not something to get all hyper over. The woman made a mistake. Lots of people make mistakes every year, and there are lots of worse ones that she could have done (like killing someone with her car for example, which happens alot more often than this sort of thing).
There is nothing medically or psychologically wrong with someone in their 20s being attracted to someone in their late teens, and if you say differently, you're full of it. To act on those impulses, especially in her situation, is obviously a big mistake, but you all just need to get some perspective here.
And I don't understand how you blowhards can use this as an indictment of our education system. It may be underfunded and overrun by a lazy bureaucratic administration, but teachers having sex with their students is like right near the bottom of the list of problems that need to be addressed, simply because this is a fairly rare occurrance, while finding a young person that doesn't have the knowledge needed to get along in the world is a much more common occurrance.
If you want to talk about the issues, I'm welcome to listen, but if you're just using this forum as a way to stroke your ego or polish your credentials as one of the “morally pure”, then I suggest you stop wasting bandwidth and find something better to do with your life. I mean seriously, if you feel the need to convince people you'll probably never meet that you are smarter, or better, or more moral than the rest of us, then maybe there's something wrong with you, and maybe you don't have room to go casting stones at anybody.
3 July 2007
at 2:11 a.m.
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SWGlassPit (Anonymous) says…
I actually went to high school with her, sat in front of her in my seminar class…
While I think some of the people are being over-the-top on here (especially the comments on her physical appearance—seriously, if that's the best you can do, that says more about you than anything else), I honestly would not have expected this from her.
Granted, it's been a good six years since I last talked to her, but still, this kinda sets my head spinning a bit.
3 July 2007
at 2:59 a.m.
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vatoloco001 (Anonymous) says…
As a MALE survivor of childhood sexual abuse myself, I find it highly offensive that so many posters here think that the 15-year-old child in question “wasn't harmed”. The fact that this occured inevitably will invoke harm — the court hearing, the entire situation, the guilt this child will face for the perpetrator's punishment, etc… and that doesn't even begin to address the sexual issues this child will have as he lives his life. He's not free to develop his youth any longer. He's had to face the most cruel of crimes one human can inflict on another.
Guapaloca, tambien yo hablo espanol y me da mucho, mucho coraje y rencor saber que tu defiendas a esta mujer… Es que tu tambien eres una violadora de ninos y jovenes? No importa si es una santa en frente de Dios… Jesus Cristo dijo que “El que dana a los ninos contestara frente a mi.”. Asi, Guapaloca, mejor piensa bien lo que haces desde ahorita para adelante.
As an adult I have worked with others who have endured abuse as children - both women and men, and there are many more men than you'd imagine who were sexually abused by women when they were children. The damage is reflected in greater hostility towards women when they are adults, an inability to form healthy relationships, issues regarding intimacy, trust and self-esteem. It's not just about age differences, it's also still about power. Meredith held power over the 15 year old, more power than if she was his boss at a job. She abused that power and she took it to the point where this child will suffer greatly as a result of her “indescretion”.
My own situation resulted in going to court and it was a year and a half of disgusting, revolting and humiliating appearances in court. The person who sexually abused me ultimately plead guilty after many attacks on my character by his attorney and using loopholes to extend the process. I was abused from the age of 7 until about 13. The person who abused me was on the verge of getting his teaching credential. He also sexually abused other children at the junior high school where he worked at. He was also the boy's volunteer basketball coach.
I survived and I healed though the scars of my experience are still visible to me, on my wrist and in my heart. If I could go back to those days, to the last time I was sexually abused, I would have followed through with what stopped the abuse when I pulled a knife on the abuser. I wish I had killed him — I would not have been tried as an adult and all of the abuse would have come to light when I was 13 and not when I was 15 after numerous suicide attempts.
3 July 2007
at 3:05 a.m.
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vatoloco001 (Anonymous) says…
I am Latino, Mexican-American, born in the U.S. I graduated high school with a 3.935 GPA even though I went through hell. I graduated from college with high marks (not honors) and I also helped to form a student-run organization that advocated and provided support groups for others who had suffered sexual abuse as children. And I currently work in the psychology field helping families that have had to deal with domestic violence, child abuse, and other like issues. I help the families that can remain together stay together and when it is not possible, I help protect the children from futher harm. I don't work with pedophiles — and female pedophiles are worse than male pedophiles because of the comments made by such people as Guapaloca show. It's far, far easier to “excuse” the acts of women when it comes to this and simply look the other way and “believe” that the boys are “getting something cool”. But I can guarantee you, Guapaloca and others who think like her, these boys are not “getting something”, they have a hard road ahead o them and many (like yourselves) who want to try to run them down. And those like Meredith who have pretty much destroyed most of their chances to live a healthy, fulfilling, and rewarding life.
I'm in my mid-30's now, not married, no children. Unfortunately, because of a disease I was given as a child by the person who abused me, I cannot have children. Thankfully it wasn't HIV, though if it was I would be dead by now and would not have the memories to deal with. I've had girlfriends, but I have been extremely cautious… I didn't even date until I was 24. I'm told I'm “good looking” but I have a hard time believing it though objectively I know I am OK. I have been blessed enough to have loved and been loved, but the issues related to what I went through made those relationships impossible to sustain.
I only hope that the child involved in this situation with Meredith gets the help he needs and deserves. Chances are very good to excellent that he will not become a child molester — it is a myth that most boys and girls who were sexually abused become abusers themselves. Most of them turn that anger inward and harm themselves. Others turn it outwards in violent ways, but not as child molesters. There are a few who do and if Meredith herself was sexually abused as a child, then it is doubly sad. It is an extra responsibility for those of us who were abused as children to NOT abuse in the same manner. The reason is simple — we know better, we know more than anyone else how damaging and vicious childhood sexual abuse is and for that simple, straightforward reason we are not to harm others the way we were hurt ourselves. Sexual organs are never to be used as weapons…
3 July 2007
at 3:07 a.m.
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vatoloco001 (Anonymous) says…
If you could read all of this and got to this point, I hope you take the time to speak to your children clearly about the dangers that exist. The sexual abuse of children is generally done by someone known, loved, and trusted by the child — a family member generally. Members of the clergy (as many court cases document) and teachers are another group that have easy access and power over children. Female babysitters are the other often never mentioned group that do a lot of the abusing of both male and female children. Please take the time to speak clearly about sexual reproduction with your children in an age-appropriate manner and in ways to help them prevent sexual abuse or at least to limit the amount of time they are sexually abused. If your child tells you of something that happened to them that could be abuse, don't silence them. Hear them out and investigate or report it if it warrants it. The sooner you stop the abuse, the sooner your child will heal and the less will be the damage to that child's soul.
Meredith and Guapaloca, I will continue to speak for those children who cannot because they live in fear or embarrassment and for those who are no longer with us who were overcome in the struggle. Jamas me vas a callar, Guapaloca… people like yourself will NEVER silence those like me. We are not all dead, you and your kind have failed to stomp the life out of all of us.
To any other teacher (male or female) out