I hope after this firestorm of commentary that this guy is in fact guity. It would really be a tragedy if it never happened.

How can anyone even turn this the other way? Are you all retarded? As a teacher, an authority and a coach, it's very easy to seduce a vulnerable 16 year old girl. As "great" as many claim klemm to be- looks like very few knew his true colors. He should be hung. Prayers and thoughts go out to the girl and her family. His wife and daughter we well.

Why did the girl agree to have sexual intercourse with him in the beginning of this horrific incident. She should have said no and told authorities right away. Instead, she agreed and took pleasure upon the disgusting act. She should face jail time also. She is very stupid for this.

Right! That's a brilliant idea John. Let teachers lure students into their pants and then put vulnerable students in jail. You should run for superintendent.

WNHS is no stranger to inappropriate teacher/student relationships. In my four years there, I know of at least two male teachers having sex with female students. CUSD 200 has a reputation to uphold, so I am sure that unless the parents of the students make a stink, most of the behavior gets swept under the rug.

Klemm was a great teacher. A 16 year old IS old enough to know what she's doing. He should get 5 yrs maximum. Yes she was underage and he needs to suffer the consequences, but people who are saying hang him are insane and obviously the crazy religious Wheaton people. He didn't murder anyone

This poor couple. I think we all need to take a step back and say how long can these laws go on? Soon anyone who thinks a 39 year old and a 16year old can't have "love" will be called bigots. Didn't it make them both "happy" for a time? So what if he's married...maybe their marriage was "monogamish" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gregory-cason-phd/monogamish_b_2806022.html and if so, who are you to judge? When will we finally go back to right and wrong in all areas of human relationships, or stop pretending that there is such a thing? It's one or the other. Our society is so double-minded. We continue to fill the cultural air we breathe with glamorized unrestrained sexualilty as the highest value; yet marvel at the behavior everyone exhales as a result? The one frayed shred of boundary left is crossed and superior "moral" outrage pours forth. This poor couple was only doing what comes naturally - he was living in American Pie and she was trying to be a Cosmo girl. Prison time seems a little outrageous given our current state of morals. Unless of course you do believe in right and wrong....but, then you should have been outraged long before it got this far....and you will be an outcast like Jean Ives has become in the public square. Lets be consistent.

No problem being consistent. He was a teacher in a position of authority. She was, presumably, an adult physically, but at 16, in our society, she was almost certainly still a child. And if, by some chance she was emotionally and psychologically mature, most her age are not. And that is why we have the laws we do.

Had he been 17, you would be right, but there is no power imbalance there and no position of trust and authority that he could take advantage of.

He is a teacher who raped one of his students. Pretty clear and pretty consistent.

Laura Zillman - The girl is a trampy homewrecker. You know nothing about the "victim" in the case. The teacher obviously made a mistake, calm down. He didn't "assault" her. He should be in jail for a month and free to go. The fact that he can't teach is a big enough punishment.

"Grooming," is not just a term used for care of pets. If so Mr. Klemm is convicted then he like so many others before knew the manipulation and ways that created a loss incomprehensible to any teenager or youth as well the innocent parties whom had trusted in his professionalism. It a betrayal of a person and who this time happened to been employed by this district. Mindful it has happened in college football athletic clubs hospitals that we simply can not target do fast the places of choice to exercise their perverse intentions ( in any way). If so convicted then the betrayal is of many and the victims are most likely precious as a young adult or teen. I'd advise caution in ideas of other and allow the authorities do their work and isolate the matters to the alleged not where he misused his perversions or temptations ( if true) only a court of law can determine the reality not media ) . Additionally to avoid the extensive betrays of the community leaders other staff as it again, was about one person so far we know of to have been arrested.

I would call her a "victim" if it happened once or only at school. But the fact that she went other places with him and it took her 10 months to stop it has to put some blame on her. He was an authority figure but she should have used her voice to speak one of the first words she learned "NO". Also it she thought it was so wrong why did she keep the letter?

Here is a head scratcher... if this student had a sexual encounter with this teacher with the intent of murdering him and stealing his wallet, she would be both a 'Child' Victim of Sexual Assault and most likely prosecuted as an 'Adult' for Murder. All on the same day.

Discuss.

What about innocent until proven guilty in a court of law? Please pray for his wife and daughter. My child went to WNHS and said he was the best teacher there. I hope these allegations are false.

I have multiple kids at WNHS.They had Mr.K and agree that he is an excellent teacher. However, his teaching or motivational skills are not on trial. One of my kids graduated the same year as "the student", and participated in the same extra-curricular activities and had a front-seat view to her behavior around Mr.K. What Mr.K did was wrong - Morally, legally, spiritually, professionally -totally wrong.He is paying a hefty price for his wrong-doing. What I struggle with after reading the comments, is the view that relieves the student of any personal culpability or responsibility.Having raised multiple kids through HS years, I must have either done an amazing job as a parent or my children were born incredibly special, since none of my kids would 1)be attracted o a 40+ year old man and pursue his attention 2)allow any person,regardless of their position or authority,to kiss,fondle,rape them over and over again against their will.I simply dont see my own kids as hapless victims. Even if they were tied down,they would kick,smack,scream,bite and report abuse.I am in no way defending Mr.K's behavior - simply pointing out that no matter how great a manipulator he might have been, he doesn't have magical powers to charm or lure or put a voodoo spell on kids what would enable him to rape repeatedly and have them coming back for more against their will.The world is full of evil adults and our teens are incapable until the age of 18 to know right from wrong?? Really?

I had mr K as a speech teacher and I was probably one of the few people who disliked him. At first, like all other I saw him as a funny and "cool" teacher but it slowly became evident that this was a teacher that held favorites and if you werent one of them you were treated much differently. He was a man that craved attention and would get pouty if a student was being funnier than him. I remember a time when one student gave a hilarious speech and meanwhile klemm is sitting in the back of the class with his hands folded with an angry expression and when the student asked if he did something wrong his only response was a cold " i just didnt think it was funny" repeated several times. He had a HUGE ego and would often spend whole classes just talking about himself. The final straw for me is when I had students come up to me after his class and tell me he was making fun of my presentation to other classes and when confronted about it denied everything. Mr klemm was never a professional teacher and the only reason he was so well liked is because he treated students like FRIENDS and not like STUDENTS that he was meant to guide and teach. It disgusts me to think of this man that so many respected betraying everything he was meant to stand for and he derserves to spend many years in jail.

in regards to the girl, while i dont believe every person would make that decision if presented with it, she is sixteen and still young enough to be able to make a mistake like this and learn from it. When your a teenager you are very impressionable and Mr K knew that which is what makes what he did so wrong. He was her mentor and for him to take that position and use it in this perverse way is sick. Im sure she feels a lot of guilt for what has happened but any teenage girl can relate to the fact that its difficult to deny someone you maybe have a crush on or just admire pressures you to do something. Not that it is a good excuse it is human and the mistakes you make as a teenager should not be as harshly judged like a the decisions of forty year old.

I agree with Laura Zillman from a legal perspective. The only one being prosecuted and if found guilty, sentenced is the law-breaking adult. Under the law, the student is completely innocent and a victim. If found guilty of all counts, Mr.K could face over 40years of incarceration, which could mean he never walks out a free man. A judge once said " there is the LAW and then there is common sense". I agree with you from a legal standpoint, but I was approaching the topic from a common sense point of view. Although the law deems anyone under 17 incapable of consent, are our teenagers powerless victims when faced with criminal assault/rape? Do they have no choice but to subject themselves to repeated abuse if the law-breaking adult decides that? The world is full of evil - there are people w/ criminal intents even in our so called "safe places" like homes, schools, churches, clubs, places where adults are supposed to be protecting the kids. Can we not raise up children who know right from wrong and are able to protect themselves? Most in that WN extra-curricular group are very bright, smart, vocal, often in the top 10% . One would hope that from an intellectual standpoint they are capable of knowing good from evil. Laura, what would you have done if like the victim, a few weeks prior to your 17th bday, you had been approached by an adult who wanted to criminally assault and rape you? Do you feel that since the law deemed you incapable of consent, you didn't have a choice?

Laura Zillman,I agree completely with your posts. I have to say that anonymous seems to feel that since her children would certainly have told someone everyone else would. First of all, this is first a selfish attitude and second, how would she really know? Children often hide things from their parent's for years so this could be the case with anyone. Those who post without minimizing or blaming others for Mr. Klemm's actions seem to show the best judgement and simple common sense. Let's hope we see a lot more of that!

Thank you Laura for the posts. Your passion for the cause is evident. Regardless of what happened, Mr. Klemm is the guilty one. The victim was a child (under the law and per natural human development). Nobody knows what she thought or what she was going through at that time. We are not to judge, especially when we are not involved. Leave this up to the legal system and concentrate on what we can do...making sure it doesn't happen again. School board meetings and elections are coming up. Let's put this energy into making sure it never happens again in our schools.

Former Wheatonite
Laura Zillman,
You are prejudicial and bigoted. "Judge not, that ye may not be judged." Remember that one! You're a young person with no real life experience who has set herself up as judge and juror. Who knows what problems or issues you may face in your life as your future unfolds. Everything is not always black and white. In the past I worked at Wheaton North and I know Ed Klemm to be one of the finest teachers there. Why do you think he was elected over and over to give the Senior commencement speeches or be the commentator for the teacher retirement dinners.
I was 16 once, and there's no way I would ever have consented to have sex with a teacher or my boyfriend for that matter. This girl knew exactly what she was doing. It was consensual sex. Should Klemm be found guilty, he will have to serve time. But I certainly hope he gets a mitigated sentence. Fighting this case will probably result in financial ruin for him and his family, and of course he will never be able to teach again, which is probably the biggest loss. He may also have to register as a sex offender which will brand him anywhere he wants to live and deter him from finding work in another field. Is that enough judgement meted out to your liking? Or have you set yourself up as God, as well? As for the girl, she was probably having sex long before she came across Mr. Klemm.

Former Wheatonite your post is alarming. I think that the fact that you worked at Wheaton North in the past is telling-and not in a good way. You obviously have issues with women since, as an adult, I assume, you are so certain that this girl had had sex "long" before she met Mr. Klemm. How in the world could you know or assume as much?!!! Talk about judgement!!! As a former educator, it seems that you also need to educate yourself much more about "grooming." Most "groomer's" are very popular, kind, etc. They are also extremely selfish and often dangerous. Please do your homework. Mr. Klemm broke the law and knew he was, every second. If you can't even use common sense to understand how wrong this was and actually have the nerve to blame her in any way, shape or form than I am elated that you no longer teach as you are obviously anything but a good role model. I have two girls in this district and as a parent I teach them to respect women and men but, NOT when they break the law. You, however seem to want this innocent girl arrested. It is very alarming that somehow you think this is using good "judgement."

Former Wheatonite, I forgot to add that yes, he will indeed have to register as a sex offender, since he is one. A former teacher should know this. As for the financial ruin for his family, clearly, he didn't care about that either did he?

I'm a little late getting to this party, but WOW... I can't believe some of the nonsense I'm reading! Klemm is a creep and there are a few too many folks here who seem to think that what he did isn't all that bad. Why is that? He broke the law and he betrayed his position of trust, and he should be punished for that. He's somehow provoked a lot of sympathy on the part of the public based on the outdated ideology that "he's a man and a man can't be blamed for giving into THAT sort of temptation." I say--as a man--men should be stronger than that. Are we to believe that men aren't capable of being stronger than that? Are we going to accept that the best men can do is hit, rape and kill women, expecting that society will mitigate their blame by wrongly attributing part of it to the victim? How completely twisted is that? Men can do and should do better and be stronger than that. I say: What a sorry excuse for a man is Ed Klemm.

Oh, and here's a call out to Unheard! Glad to see you're still fighting the good fight!

Thanks Vincent-still fighting and am very glad to see that you aren't fighting with women and, in fact, even expect more from your fellow men!!! You know what I wonder? This should be so easy since HE IS A TEACHER yet, we STILL need to write these posts. Sure makes me wonder....

Makes me wonder, too! All this trash about how the teen had a part in this and Kleem shouldn't be sentenced too harshly really gets my ire up. I wonder if anyone has any sense nowadays, particularly after the whole coyote thing a spell back. Evidently, if Klemm had been poking around backyards looking for something to eat he would deserve to be shot on sight, but if he's ONLY having sex with teenage students, well, he should get a pass? Curious attitudes around Wheaton...

This is such an awful situation in which everyone is a victim. This was just an impressionable young girl. In addition to the age difference and the fact that she was underage, the teacher was an authority figure to her. If she's like 99% of 16-year-olds, she likely would have felt flattered & validated by her teacher's attention. The sexual relationship didn't begin on the first day they met. I'm sure this was a long-standing relationship where lines slowly became blurred and ultimately erased. No doubt there was an evolving level of emotional intimacy between the two long before the sex started. I know plenty of ADULTS who could fall victim to this kind of situation. This girl didn't stand a chance.

As for the teacher, he is both perpetrator and victim. He is and will continue to pay for what he has done. I realize that not everything is an equivocation. There have to be rules, penalties and absolutes. He broke the law and is being punished. At best, he will have to start his life over. At best. Does he have a "dark side"? You bet, but so do most of us, whether or not we're capable of something like this.

I am a parent of two WNHS graduates. In fact, my daughter was in the victim's class. I had met Klemm on a couple of brief occasions but did not know him at all. I have no idea what his history is, nor what lurked in his "dark side". But I suspect the lines became blurred for him as well, probably without his realizing it.

I pray all the families & friends heal.

WN parent I would kindly disagree that "everyone" here is a victim. This could be construed as insulting to victims. Mr. Klemm was in no way a victim here. To say that "everyone has a dark side" is simply yet another excuse for his behavior.

I agree with Unheard. "Blurred lines" are a result of a person not having a sharp enough focus on what's what in his or her life.

Understood. As I said, Klemm did something horrible and is now paying the price.

Why did not one person comment on the statements of there being another one or two teachers who are committing this same kind of violation? I hope the police are checking on these statements. If true, I hope these teachers are removed and charged also.

Too harsh? Yes. Criminals convicted of murder and manslaughter routinely get sentenced to less than 44 years. This doesn't mean I want to see Klemm be given a pass, but a possible 44 years is too much.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/19440131-418/teen-sentenced-to-32-years-in-iphone-murder.html

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/04/03/man-sentenced-to-37-years-after-pleading-guilty-to-murder-of-niu-student/

WNHS parent you just don't seem to understand. WE GET ANGRY WHEN THESE LIGHT SENTENCES ARE GIVEN. So, why are you complaining? I, for one, am celebrating the fact that the majority is FINALLY being heard. To his wife-please run, don't walk to your lawyer, especially since he is in jail now.

WN Mom, I must have missed the statement about other teachers engaging in this type of criminal activity. I, too, certainly hope that the authorities aggressively investigate that possibility and bring any offenders to justice. What a world we live in that this type of stuff is going on in our school system that is already having issues providing an education that is fitting of an industrialized nation.

WNHS parent, this sentencing possibility isn't as much of a mystery as your making it out to be. Klemm could get a certain amount for each offense. It's simply a math problem: x number of years per offense times number of offenses equals total possible years. And by and large, heinous crimes do carry sentences longer than Klemm's, even if he receives the maximum sentence. You'll, no doubt, pull up examples to the contrary, but those will be exceptions to the rule, and the whole matter is such because we don't want people committing crimes to get light sentences. We also don't want someone who is repeatedly committing the same crime to be let off with a light sentence because the sentencing corresponds with only the single act of the crime. For instance, don't you think that a person who is caught with say twenty stolen cars deserves to be charged with twenty counts of car theft rather than one? I'd hope so... I don't know what makes Klemm so special that people will go to ludicrous lengths to try to mitigate his crime!

I think Unheard is right--again--and the wife of this Klemm character ought to be running for the lawyer's office. The sooner she can shed the dead weight of Klemm, the sooner she can start to rebuild her life.