document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I think I will be cat all my life.. According to reports, the girl allegedly is phenomenally bright and does not speak during school hours. In a clip from 'What is a Woman?', a documentary by right-wing commentator Matt Walsh, interviewee Sara Stockton, a family therapist based in New York, says schoolchildren are self-identifying as. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Rumors began to surface that these students were permitted to use litter boxes in bathrooms to. The spread of false rumors about students identifying as cats and using litter boxes has been laughed off by many but is a point of concern for others. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Accessed 5 Apr. I dont understand why these kids are acting so un-human and not happy with themselves, she said. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? These things just made me feel uncomfortable and so unnecessary as to why theyre barking at me, and its very distracting during school days.". As usual, left-wing ideologues have created larger societal problems by refusing to address the main issue. When asked by NBC News for evidence to support her assertion, Lauf referred to an anonymous far-right blog that claimed a student was permitted to wear a furry suit to school in Hinsdale, Illinois. Many of these assertions claim that schools have or are in the process of having litter boxes placed in schools.. Not everyone supported the policy changes, with a group protesting them outside district offices in April. "The grandmother is urging parents and family members to attend the Meade County School Board meeting on Sept. 14 to request further action. A Cork school has notified gardai - over bogus claims that a student has decided to identify as a cat. It was"unconscionable" that he was addressing the rumor, Sharrow said,but he felt it necessary to do so because of its renewed spread on social media. The story about the fired substitute also had its roots in an online video, with a woman who says shes a teacher relating the story via TikTok. Some commenting on the situation in Midland questioned why the superintendent posted a message denouncing the litter boxes as a hoax on a Facebook page for emergency communications. Every school district that has been named by those 20 politicians said either to NBC News or in public statements that these claims are untrue. Where did you get your info. "She is non verbal and she crawls around making cat like noises and the school is perfectly fine with this behavior? Vicki McKenna Promotes False Claim about Furries in Waunakee School District. Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin, 4 Apr. One student was apparently disciplined for pulling on the tail of one of the cat identifying students who was seen hissing at students in the cafeteria. The latest madness is the news of a teenage girl who identifies as a cat the latest example of how self-identification is not necessarily an expression of the healthiest or best thing for someone who needs mental help. No, schools do not have litter boxes for students, Complaint filed against Pennsylvania school district alleges discrimination against LGBTQ students, alongside other extreme and baseless rhetoric, Moms for Liberty, a conservative activist group, Surveys and pre-publication research from Furscience also indicate. The trend toward acting like a cat or dog is real, even if the Midland school litter box is the hoax du jour. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. This material may not be reproduced without permission. However, as USA TODAY reported, the district's superintendent shut downthe rumor soon after Maddock shared the video on Jan. 20. Sign up now to get the Washington Examiners breaking news and timely commentary delivered right to your inbox. In January 2022, for example, unfounded rumors were circulated on social media claiming that a school in Michigan had installed litter boxes in order to appease students who had started identifying as cats. The behaviour is often linked to a "furries" subculture being adopted by many teens, where many furries feel a deep connection to a particular animal that they take on their "fursona", according to Gerbasi et al. This is what we're doing now in 2022. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. It doesnt make sense," she added.But according to Superintendent Mark Martin, a petition isnt needed.He said the costumes violate the school dress code:"A small number of Meade County High School students have violated the dress code policy during the early part of the school year. And during a legislative hearing last month in Tennessee, two Republican state lawmakers discussed the growing crisis of public schools providing litter boxes for children who identify as cats, and claimed its happening across the state. But thats beyond the scope of this blog, which is to celebrate cats, have a laugh and occasionally put the spotlight on animal welfare. Even more disturbing is the fact that the private school she attends is willing to acknowledge her feline self-identification and permits her to act like a cat in school so long as her behavior doesnt disrupt the class, according to the Herald Sun. No teachers have come forward to talk about the supposed protocols, and no students or parents have corroborated any of these claims. Furscience, the public face of a team of researchers who study the subculture. The Meade County School district is dealing with an unusual situation: a group of high school students is attending school acting like and dressing as cats. WATCH: New Buddy Wildlife Documentary Premieres OnPITB! Clearly, identifying as a cat is absurd and indicative of a serious personal problem. In one of the images, she appears to be crawling on her hands and knees. Many kids learn in different ways - some are more visual while others absorb information better if they read about it, but everyone learns best when they are comfortable and at ease, and for one teen in Australia, that means acting like a cat.. go to the park or an animal shelter and maybe youll be adopted! Be supportive of students who share their differences. Many parents and teachers have confided in me privately about the madness thats happening pertaining to this trend, Lauf told NBC News in an email. NBC News found one example of a school district keeping cat litter on campuses for students to use but it had nothing to do with accommodating children who identify as animals. A photograph from one of those presentations went viral on social media: While we're not sure exactly when or where this photograph was taken, we did find a video of Pesta using this same slide at a presentation in Hartland, Wisconsin on March 31, 2022, called "American Public Schools: From Failure to Fascism." Andy Cross / Denver Post via Getty Images. However, by constantly celebrating their decisions as brave, holding parades, allowing them to compete in sporting events with biological women, naming them women of the year, or even acknowledging gender identity as something more than junk science, society merely reinforces disturbing behaviors. The woman'sname is Nano and she was 20 at the time the images were captured, according to the reports. Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks, Fact Check-Photographs do not show a U.S. student who wanted to identify as a cat, Fact check: No, a Michigan public school did not provide litter boxes for students identifying as cats, Fact check: Wisconsin school district debunks claim that it has a 'furry protocol', 20-Year-Old Woman Claims She Is A Cat Born In The Wrong Body, Born in the wrong species // Fdt i feil art, 'I was born in the wrong species': Woman who says she's a CAT trapped in a human body hisses at dogs, hates water and claims she can even see better at night. hurricane shannon 1936. . Some social media users are sharing a photo they claim shows a student who identifies as a cat. No actual evidence has been presented to support the claim. Transgender is when someone identifies with a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth. 2022. How is this sanitary?. No, Furries Dont Get Litter Boxes in School Bathrooms. Poynter, 8 Mar. Meanwhile on TikTok, one video claiming kids are now requesting litter boxes at school collected 3 million views on the platform. Follow, Investigative Radio host/ On-Scene Facebook Live stream. (LogOut/ Six Republican members of the North Dakota Legislature introduced a bill Wednesday that would send a clear message to nonhuman-identified students . If we do encounter a verifiable story about a school district doing that, Ill absolutely write about it. Jan. 24, 2023, 2:31 PM PST. oh, dont forget to stock up on cat food as human food isnt really good for them. Midland Public Schools via YouTube, Dec. 21, 2021. "The Oregon Department of Education has had trans-inclusive policies in place for years now, and no harm has come to cisgender or transgender students as a result of those policies," Stenvick said. First, the obvious, or perhaps not-so-obvious considering the media attention and outrage surrounding both stories: Neither one is true. These situations have been addressed consistently by administration and the dress code policy will continue to be implemented with fidelity. 5 min read. Im just embarrassed by what this has gotten to," she said. To a person not steeped in the culture war battles over gender identity that have engulfed school districts nationwide, its the kind of claim that would sound bizarre and confusing and, from high-profile GOP members, authoritative. Sorry, not a known recognizable language. The students are minors so their names are not being released and it is unknown if they identify as male felines or female felines. The claim: Photos show non-verbal student whose cat identity is accommodated at public school Some social media users are sharing a photo they claim shows a student who identifies as a cat.. The postfrom Peggy Hubbard, who lost a recentIllinois Republican U.S. Senate primary, implies a connection to a U.S. school district, but the pictures don't show an American public school student or anything recent. Author lied. / students identifying as cats. "This is a rumor that has been circulating nationally, and more recently in our community, and is simply just that, a rumor, and is not in any way accurate. Whats most provocative about this hoax is how it turns on two key wedge issues for conservatives: educational accommodations and gender nonconformity, said Joan Donovan, research director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University and co-author of Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America.. Meet Nano, the woman who thinks she is a cat. The photos show a Norweigan adult who claimed to be acat in 2016. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WLWT-TV. Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who arent really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse. He said the costumes violate the school dress code: "A small number of Meade County High School students have violated the dress code policy during the early part of the school year. "Restroom facilities are available at all district facilities in compliance with state law," she added. As the number of people identifying as trans and nonbinary has increased in recent years, particularly among young people, so has the amount of anti-LGBTQ legislation from conservative politicians. Alternatively have them DNA tested. In an email sent to parents, staff and community members on Jan. 20, Midland Public SchoolsSuperintendent Michael Sharrowdenied the claim that "litter boxes were provided within MPS student restrooms for those who identify themselves as 'furries.'" I have two grandkids in school and my grandkids didnt want to go to school anymore," she said.She said the issue gained attention on social media once people started sharing photos and videos of the feline costumes and behavior, "I started getting videos and messages from kids, and I said, 'Ok, Im going to post this so parents know whats going on. The school district called that blogs story completely inaccurate and not something it would permit. Well, not a little bit, a lot a bit upset furious; I would even use that word, Hansen said. Perhaps even more surprising is what nearly a decade of research on the subject can tell us all about how we relate to animals, how we understand ourselves, and how we benefit from letting the inner child run wild every so often.. 2022, https://www.poynter.org/tfcn/2022/no-furries-dont-get-litter-boxes-in-school-bathrooms/. Rogan did not name the school, and his publicist did not respond to a request for comment. Sheryl, if you have the name of the school district, and you can show me proof in the form of a written school policy, and put me in touch with your teacher friend in Georgia who can give me verifiable details, Ill be happy to write another follow-up article. The photos are from 2016 and show a Norweigan adult who is capable of speaking, not a non-verbal, school-aged child. I dont accept sponsored posts and I have a no-politics policy, even for politics-adjacent subjects like this. Identifying as human isn't good enough anymore, so now some must cross species to identify as a cat to gain attention. She said when she has worn part of her fur suit to school, I dont act like an animal, or think that I am one.. The post has been shared more than 300 times and garnered receptions of both hilarity and condemnation. And no, one seems to want to stop this and instead encourage it in their schools. I like bringing them because its a way to show my creative outlet and something to talk to my friends about. The one thing thats certain, however, is that cats dont deserve to be in the middle of this mess. The photos show a young woman wearing costume cat ears. At a luncheon for Republican women in Mesa County, Colorado, last week, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., warned that educators are putting litter boxes in schools for people who identify as cats.. One post calling for school districts to take action has been shared more than 31,000 times. But this post tells a story that simply didn't happen. If youre on the right, youre might argue that some schools have gone so overboard with political correctness, its not a stretch to imagine privileges conferred on the allegedly cat-identified. Back to school: Oregon trans student's advice to LGBTQ youth. At an October Midland school board meeting, an eighth grader said she was confused, as a student, why kids are walking around acting like cats and dogs., Speaking at about the 1:30-minute mark, she described a student who walked around the school with a long cat tail, cat ears and "little bells that jingled everywhere she went.". Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. Yet it seems the rumor has reached Oregon, with recent gossip asserting Salem-Keizer Public Schools officials approved a student's request to self-identify as a cat and allowed litter boxes in the restrooms of Sprague High School. Nebraska Lawmaker Apologizes for Debunked Litter Box Claim. NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/nebraska-lawmaker-apologizes-debunked-litter-box-claim-rcna21951. The claim: A Michigan school put litter boxes in bathrooms for students who identify as cats A video of a central Michigan school board meeting went national in mid-January after a parent. I understand WHY my daughter home schooled our grandchildren.". USA TODAY has previously debunked other false claims that school districts accommodated children who behave like animals by providing litterboxes or allowing them to lick their "paws" in class. subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. A SCOTTISH secondary school has had to deny reports that some of its pupils were identifying as cats and defecating on the floor after school officials refused to provide a litterbox. Three school-age furries told NBC News they have at times dressed up at school, typically wearing just part of their full costume such as a mask or gloves that look like paws, but theyd never heard of any furry ever asking for a litter box. As for this particular subject, I have thoroughly looked into the viral stories about schools accommodating students who identify as cats, and theyve all turned out to be rumors or hoaxes. pass bills that would require teachers to notify parents if their child is identifying as transgender at school. You want to communicate by meowing? Thank you for supporting our journalism. On Facebook, public posts show variations of the claim popping up throughout the country every day, citing unnamed grandchildren or neighbors, from Florida to California. Ben Collins covers disinformation, extremism and the internet for NBC News. I'd even use the word 'furious,'" she says. ! I get to the third row and I hear this meow! Uhhh, excuse me? 2022. The unnamed teenage girl, who is in Year 8, is reportedly allowed to. She did not elaborate on what happened afterward but . The rumour was also spread by popular US podcaster Joe Rogan. Stop the world we need to get . room for rent in reykjavik long term. 2022. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. Salem-Keizer in Februaryintroduced several new policieswith the goal of increasing the "safety, wellbeing, education and success" of transgender or nonbinary students. The schools superintendent, Michael Sharrow, was forced to do damage control with a public statement, telling parents its a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you., There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation, Sharrow wrote. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF2k85dOs_Y. Will Democrats and Big Tech ever apologize? This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. As he argued for the resolution in a public meeting, Shea said, Weve literally got kids who think theyre cats and dogs using litter boxes in classrooms. Shea did not respond to requests for comment. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. NBC News spoke to three school-age furries who have posted on TikTok about the experience of being a furry at school. "Let me be clear there is no truth whatsoever tothis false statement/accusation! The week before, on Sept. 29, Minnesota GOP gubernatorial nominee Scott Jensen asked during a campaign stop, Why do we have litter boxes in some of the school districts so kids can pee in them, because they identify as a furry?. The district's superintendent said in a public statement that "there have never been litter boxes within (Midland Public) schools.". USA TODAY reached out to Hansen for comment. A reaction from another user calling for schools to stop admitting furries to schools brought in over 1 million views. But the claim has taken on a life of its own among a growing number of Republicans, conservative influencers and political commentators. Like Richard Littejohn at the Daily Mail, I'm not sure how many . "Apparently, from what I understand, theyre called 'furries,'" the grandmother, who asked to remain anonymous, told WLKY. These situations have been addressed consistently by administration and the dress code policy will continue to be implemented with fidelity. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Oh, you are a human? Michigan had installed litter boxes in order to appease students who had started identifying as cats, there's no evidence that any schools in Michigan installed litterboxes for their students. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem-Keizer: Claims of litter boxes in school restrooms are false. Randy Guttenberg, thesuperintendent of the Waunakee school district, told the Wisconsin news outlet Isthmus.com: I am aware of the misinformation that is circulating on social media. Furries are part of an established subculture that has existed for decades. Olivia, 16, from California, said shes been part of the furry community for six years. Not So, Says School Official, Midland Public Schools December 2021 Board of Education Meeting, Students identifying as furries using litter boxes? do koalas have poisonous claws. Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks. The Jefferson County school district disputed Ganahls claims and said its dress code prohibits costumes at school. She said the issue gained attention on social media once people started sharing photos and videos of the feline costumes and behavior, "I started getting videos and messages from kids, and I said, 'Ok, Im going to post this so parents know whats going on.'". The woman says she was born the wrong species. My psychologist told me I can grow out of it, but I doubt it, she told an interviewer. Then, there was the news of Lia Thomas, the male transgender swimmer who competed for the female swimming team at the University of Pennsylvania. Indeed, the rumour appears to come from America in a mimicry of the USAs culture war surrounding LGBT+ education in schools. And now schools are wanting to put litter boxes in the schools for these children to use. 2022. The rumor about litter boxes gained enough traction that it was even mentioned during a March 2022 debate between state lawmakers in Nebraska. Rumors began to surface that these students were permitted to use litter boxes in bathrooms to accommodate them, but the districts superintendent debunked such stories. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. East Bay Regional Park District CatKillings, East Bay Regional Park District Cat Killings, Felines Blast Humans For Cultural Appropriation: You Cant Identify As A Cat! Pain In The Bud, Les flins sen prennent aux humains pour leur appropriation culturelle : Vous ne pouvez pas vous identifier en tant que chat ! The post garnered more than 1,000 interactions in less than two weeks. Follow her on Twitter@NataliePateGwin. website:https://t.co/MPw6FiMrm1. Sir David Cattenboroughs Newest Documentary Reveals The Elusive Silver-FurredBuddy, Check Out This Beautiful Gallery Of Larry The Cat, PLUS: A New Game Features A FuriousFeline, Cat With Gang Tattoos Rescued From Mexican Prison, Up ForAdoption, Buddy Scores 47 In Knicks Route OfCeltics. At least 20 conservative candidates and elected officials have claimed this year that K-12 schools are placing litter boxes on campus or making other accommodations for students who identify as cats, in fact every school district that has been named by those 20 politicians said in public statements that these claims are untrue. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. In this divisive/contentious world in which we currently find ourselves, I ask that if you hear wild accusations that dont sound like something in which your Midland Public Schools Board of Education, Administration, District would be part, take a moment to send an MPSConnect message to me, he wrote, providing the MPSConnect link. It is long past time to start rejecting this nonsense. February 27, 2023 . The claim that a Wisconsin school district implemented furry protocols in order to deal with a wave of students identifying as cats is based almost entirely on one alleged email said to have been sent from a third-party (an anonymous student's grandmother) to a podcast host. Lets get that debate started! Proof would be a letter home to parents, a notice on a district website, a copy of a school policy, that sort of thing. Two curious stories relating to cats have been circulating online this week: In the first story, a substitute teacher claims she was fired because she refused to meow back to a student who identifies as a cat, while parents in a Michigan school district were infuriated by a rumor that the district was providing litter boxes to cat-identified students in school bathrooms. We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. Brogan, Dylan. He is going on 16 years old this year, and has been with us a long time. HP10 9TY. Also a PR expert, Goddard was highlighting concerns about the next census and the push to include gender categories. "Let me be clear there is no truth whatsoever tothis false statement/accusation!
Firework Injury Statistics 2021,
Jackson State Football Depth Chart,
Insurance Va Gov Home Idu,
Articles S