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Teen In Trouble For Hugging Teacher

Olathe Teacher Reports To Police She Felt Uncomfortable

POSTED: 11:22 am CST November 18, 2008
UPDATED: 1:18 pm CST November 18, 2008

Olathe, Kan., police are investigating after a 13-year-old student hugged his teacher.

It happened on Nov. 11 at Chisolm Trail Junior High at 16700 W. 159th St.

The hug made the teacher feel uncomfortable, so she told the school's resource officer, who filed a police report.

Police were classifying the incident as a sex crime, said Officer Johnny Roland, the Olathe Police Department's public information officer.

Police wouldn't discuss the incident because it involved a juvenile, and school officials declined to comment.

Olathe parents were split about whether the student should be in trouble.

"I'm all for hugging kids. Kids deserve and require a lot of affection, but in a school setting, that really might not be an appropriate thing," said Karen Brown, a mother of three.

Brown said the teen was old enough to understand that might make his teacher feel uncomfortable.

"He should know where the boundaries lie, especially as he's becoming an adolescent," Brown said.

Denise Ketelle is also an Olathe mother.

"I have kids that are used to hugging other adults. We encourage that in our family. It's very natural for that to carry over in the schools."

What punishment, if any, the teen may face may never be known to the public because juvenile criminal records are kept confidential.

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