You read that right. And so, we've been working on that to make sure that our kids are good citizens and that they can identify author's bias or credible sources. Theyre identifying as animals. If your child thinks they are a cat or a dog then you failed as a parent. And despite the best efforts of the reality-based community to find a cure, the condition continues to spread. And last week, as I was meeting people at the Clay County GOP booth at the county fair, a student told me this sort of thing is happening at their school too. Answering the Left: But do you know any gay people? The rumor had also been peddled on Facebook by the co-chair of the Michigan GOP, Meshawn Maddock. You can also support us on PayPal at. . Somehow, it always comes back to money. "It is a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you., During the Dec. 20 meeting, a parent of a student in the district said she had been left "disturbed" after hearing a litter box had been installed in at least one unisex restroom in one of the district's schools for those who "identified as cats.". It has done nothing but distract people from the important work that we need to accomplish on a daily basis.". But the clearest evidence youve been stricken is believing that public school districts in Iowa have placed litter boxes in school bathrooms to accommodate kids identifying as animals. I agree, this starts at home with good healthy parenting. But as far as as I know, I haven't (heard anything). A level of psychiatry needs to be initiated before creating accommodations for students who identify as cats. Well, litter boxes, apparently. ACROSS AMERICA The conspiracy theory that some school districts are providing litter boxes for students who identify as animals, or "furries," is making the rounds again as the 2022-23 . A SCHOOL in Michigan has bizarrely been accused by outraged parents of installing litter boxes in bathrooms for students who identify as cats and dogs. There are an estimated 250,000 people in the US who identify as furries, a subculture whose members enjoy dressing up as cartoonish animals, sometimes as a sexual fetish but more often as a fun escape. This is about stupidity not transphobia. And what they need right now is acceptance and understanding, not further exclusion and alienation.. The same story has been debunked elsewhere in Iowa and in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan. Fargo, Moorhead and West . And I guess I've never seen anybody dressed up.". A reaction from another user calling for . Some furries even wear animal costumes or tails in public. A furry is someone that likes dressing up in a costume (generally called a fursuit) to look like an animal. (KCCI) - A school district in Iowa has been hit with rumors saying that students who "identify as cats" are allowed to use litter boxes in the school . Nearly 13 years after the 2009 Supreme Court marriage ruling, I have yet to see any weddings between a groom and a cockapoo. "Some furries wear elaborate costumes or paraphernalia such as animal ears or tails, or represent themselves as anthropomorphic animals in online communities such as Second Life," the website. Its more of a role-playing type thing that some people do to express themselves in a different way. A school board in North Carolina considered a proposal to ban furry costumes in schools after they say they received numerous complaints about students dressing up as animals and using litter . Lisa Hansen speaks to the Midland Public Schools Board of Education at its Dec. 20, 2021, meeting. The flurries of furries has reached North Dakota, with some school districts in Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo issuing statements to debunk the kitty litter rumors, as detailed in a Forum. There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation! wrote MichaelE. Sharrow, the superintendent for Midland Public Schools, near Detroit, which was accused of the bizarre concession at a Dec. 20 board meeting. "My response to that would be one of the things that teachers have found recently that they've really tried to improve upon is in our language arts classes, (and) other classes too, is making sure that students understand author's point of view, author's bias, credible sources," Lewton said. Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. In Michigan, a school superintendent alsosent an email to parents to say the claim was false, after a parent stated it publicly at a school board meeting that garnered more than 80,000 views on YouTube. 0:00. To put the rumors to rest, Lewton encouraged parents and community members to be mindful of the information they are hearing and spreading to others. Im all for creativity and imagination, but when someone lives in a fantasy world and expects other people to go along with it, I have a problem with that, added Hansen, who defined furry as someone who identifies as a cat or a dog, whatever.. This isnt a real thing. I will make contact with the local Humane Society so we can get a vehicle out there to get these unlicensed, unvaccined animals into the local pound. Imagine being such a tone deaf journalist that you miss the whole point that this is about transphobia and mocking trans people. Talk about a health violation!! The superintendent tells WLKY the situation is being addressed, but according to a concerned grandparent, it's an ongoing problem that has many students on edge . This story has been shared 147,519 times. Danger! The right-wing is waging its newest culture war on the furry community by storming school board meetings and parroting absurd talking points about schools ma. Abbott's school voucher pitch. Waukee taxpayers voice displeasure at heated meeting. In Kentucky a spokesperson for a school said a TikTok trend has students making animal noises toward each other specifically barking. We rely on the financial support of our readers to exist. De-clawing and neutering, ha! Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette), Columnist/editorial writer for The Gazette. The Meade School District will not be putting litter boxes in district schools, the superintendent said. You can also support us on PayPal at. Thanks for contacting us. (Photo by pixelfit/Getty Images). Therefore, if you identify as a dog or cat you can no longer go to a public school because animals are not allowed. Go figure: The social media criticisms flew fast and furry-ous. A recent story out of small-town Iowa was getting lots of twitters and titters: The Carroll school superintendent . Supposedly, a female student was identifying as a cat. "When I was the middle school principal, our language arts teacher said we have to do this because there is so much media and news out there that doesn't tell the whole story or the truth. Rep. Joaquin Castro diagnosed with cancer, undergoes surgery, Texas House Speaker appoints committee for gun legislation, Santa Fe families still denied video, records from 2018 shooting, Hill Country Republican seeks to ban voting on college campuses, Three misleading statements in Gov. Urinating and defication in a litter box, for others to clean up is unsanitary and quite frankly disgusting. But the cost of using transgender kids as pawns in the war against teachers unions is much higher. That's when a local news story about a Pittsburgh furry convention led to unfounded . Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow took to Facebook on Thursday to deny the claims, insisting no litter box accommodations had been made for any students who identify as a "furry.". Some furries even wear animal costumes or tails in public, I believe I'm a WOLF and I dress up using furry ears and a tail to howl in the woods, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). "This is simply and emphatically not true," and goes on to say " It is very unfortunate that this rumor has been spread over the last several weeks. Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! In the Dec. 21, 2021, YouTube video, which has over 80,000 views, Lisa Hansen says during the Midland Public Schools board meeting she had been told there was a litter box in the bathroom of at . Interestingly, the school wrote it doesnt want to discourage or thwart the creativity or individualism of students, but it wants to promote a safe and healthy culture for all kids to feel comfortable. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter. In NY state, a baby can be aborted at birth, but it is illegal, no joke, to declaw a cat. A SCHOOL in Michigan has bizarrely been accused by outraged parents of installing litter boxes in bathrooms for students who identify as cats and dogs. Put them on a leash to go to the bathroom outside. The anatomy of a rumor: Furries and litter boxes at Dickinson Public Schools Furries, people dressing up and acting like anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and . This story has been shared 125,674 times. The rumor has been spreading persistently, but was unfounded each time: An Iowa superintendentsent a letterto parents to dispel the myth. These lawsuits should be plain and simple. Editor Kathie Obradovich has been covering Iowa government and politics for more than 30 years, most recently as political columnist and opinion editor for the Des Moines Register. This is sadly happening, and even in rural, conservative, farm country, Iowa. Public school districts have already proven they lack transparency and are willing to tolerate any abhorrent behavior. In his statement, Sharrow said it was "unconscionable that this afternoon I am sending this communication. An untrue rumor that litter boxes are being placed in schools for students who dress up in furry costumes and identify as cats has made its way to two North Carolina school districts despite . Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. A Michigan school district has debunked a wild claim that the school provided litter boxes for students who identified as "furries." . Otherwise, if we don't stop this downward slide, we might soon be required to provide litter boxes for people who identify as cats. " We have too much time to worry about things And so, that's causing all this anxiety and decrease in mental health," he added. Des Moines Register, "Carroll Community School District superintendent: No litter boxes in schools," Feb. 10, 2022 Facebook post , April 4, 2022 Fort Worth Star-Telegram, " Furries eating out of . This is about stupidity not transphobia. No wonder the kids are not learning! For other inquiries, Contact Us. We did not find any credible news reports that support the claim. I live about two blocks from the school board administrator in my county, whom through his wife told us that a young lady in our district is indeed putting up a squabble about being denied accommodation as a cat. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. Same thing, wear ears, wear hooded onesies with ears and tails, purr, etc. Period. I'm a real-life furry and my lifestyle is no dirty 'cat litter box' joke. We've received your submission. Footage of her spurious accusation was subsequently shared to Facebook Thursday byMichigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock, who wrote, Parent heroes will TAKE BACK our schools.. By clicking Accept all you agree that Yahoo and our partners will process your personal information, and use technologies such as cookies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights, and product development. It was about a rumor involving an Iowa school. litter boxes in schools for furries maine. So he wasnt wearing his school board hat at the meeting. Meanwhile, back in Marion, at last weeks Linn-Mar School Board meeting, board member Matt Rollinger, who opposes the districts transgender policies, got an earful from fellow board members about his attendance at a closed-door meeting with Gov. The spokesperson wrote to parents that students were wearing items not school-appropriate. These items include collars and leather straps with spikes. They should be tossed into the litter box of history. The Iowa Standard has heard from a handful of parents across the state concerned about students identifying as "furries" at various schools throughout the state. A Nebraska state lawmaker apologized on Monday after he publicly cited a persistent but debunked rumor alleging that schools are placing litter boxes in school bathrooms to accommodate children . Maybe he was wearing the Joe and the Hoe Gotta Go hat he sported in a photo circulated on social media during last years school board campaign. Being too OPC is retarded. Imagine being such a tone deaf journalist that you miss the whole point that this is about transphobia and mocking trans people., WTF cares. Actually, I was listening to Simon Conway talk about this today, and it apparently IS going on in IOWA schools. Initially, we laughed too. Theyre also allowed to bark. So many hats! Jul 18, 2022. Its been circulating since last year and wont die. A recent story out of small-town Iowa was getting lots of twitters and titters: The Carroll school superintendent sent out an email to parents to knock down a false rumor that there were litter boxes in school bathrooms to accommodate students who identify as cats. Texas district debunks GOP hopefuls claim, Fact check: No, a Michigan public school did not provide litter boxes for students identifying as cats. Todd Dorman. A furry. When Can You Get Your License If Your Birthday Is On A Leap Day? Bostelman is the latest Republican state leader to repeat discredited rumors of students identifying as "furries" and demanding cat litter at school. Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! Thats why Iowa Capital Dispatch, a nonprofit, independent source for quality journalism, is working every day to keep you informed about what government officials are doing with your money, your freedom and your safety. In 2021 and 2022, various American conservative and far-right politicians and . Parents and school folk need to put their paws (feet) down and get real. Other, similar claims also have circulated in Wisconsin where a school districtdeniedthat it allows students who identify as furries to lick their paws in gym class and bark in hallways and in Texas, where a candidate for state officefalsely claimedthat cafeteria tables are being lowered to allow furries to eat without using utensils. If they are not claimed within 72 hours, they need to be euthanized. A district patron asked the school board at its meeting last week if this . This is definitely going on in schools. "Yesterday I heard something, and I was stunned. This isnt about mocking transgender people. At this Airbnb you'll rise with the chickensliterally. Those that have sex in the suits is what they're infamous for, but that's only a small percent of furries. Its absurd, and its mean-spirited, and it is absolutely not the focus we should be having right now, Cobb said. 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