A Nebraska state senator has walked back comments he made during a televised debate in which he referenced false rumors about schools providing litter boxes for children who . Iowa State Education Association Director Mary Jane Cobb said the litter box rumors are a right-wing attempt to mock LGBTQ+ restroom equality. Parent heroes will TAKE BACK our schools," Maddock wrote. A reaction from another user calling for . 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. Debunking myths about kids identifying as animals, and litter boxes in schools. My son largely ignores them but has found out, when forced into "social" situations with them that their parents are in full support, including the kids being nude at home because cats don't wear clothes (litter boxes at home are rumored but not confirmed). Consider the message it sends transgender kids. (Photo by pixelfit/Getty Images). Rebecca Kleeman, a spokeswoman for Millard Public Schools, said she is unaware of any incidents involving furries or requests for litter boxes. "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. You guys are truly ignorant. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. The same story has popped up at a few school districts across the country, starting with Midland Public Schools in Michigan in December after a parent brought up concerns about litter boxes in restrooms at a school board meeting. This has led to students resenting the furries and furry community. I went to r/furry to ask for advice and their opinion on how to handle this situation but got permanently banned. Tim Kraayenbrink, a Republican Iowa state senator, said at a forum in May that local schools had been required to put cat litter boxes in the bathroom for furries to use, as he discussed schools . Thanks for contacting us. 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 . No board members responded to the claim on the day of the meeting, but Sharrow's statement on Thursday dismissed the claim entirely. A Michigan school district has debunked a wild claim that the school provided litter boxes for students who identified as "furries." . My son's school (large suburban Chicago) has "furries". During his transphobic chat with conservative politician Tulsi Gabbard, right-leaning podcaster Joe Rogan repeated a far-right lie about student "furries" using litter boxes in public schools. And I guess I've never seen anybody dressed up.". No. There is nothing safe and healthy about this. Same thing, wear ears, wear hooded onesies with ears and tails, purr, etc. While there are no chickens in this tiny house, you can still have some fun in this cozy space in Fayette. A Michigan superintendent said a rumor that a school district has litter boxes on school grounds for students who identify as furries to use the bathroom is false. And oh, by the way, transgender identities are just as silly as this. Caption: Rumors are going around in . Jul 18, 2022. 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 article . 1. The litter box canard also serves another political purpose: Trying to scare parents. And have policies ensuring no one mocks them? If these student animals are so messed in the head, lets treat them like a cat or dog! Dont think its not happening in your area because it probably is. Some say litter boxes are located in "transgender bathrooms" in schools. Brilliant. 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. School litter box fever will not die in Iowa. It looks like it isnt just happening in Iowa, thankfullyI guess? This outrageous notion of schools trying to "accommodate" students who are said to identify as animals, is a far stretch. Others were enjoying poking fun at the gullibility of those who were outraged in their misguided belief that children were using litter boxes instead of toilets in school. Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! Odd. According to the Carroll Times Herald, rumors that Carroll Community School District officials were putting litter boxes into their bathroom facilities have been going on for weeks! , the term furry is defined as a "diverse community of fans, writers, gamers and role players," who come up with an anthropomorphized animal character that they identify with and can function as an avatar within the community. It is unconscionable that this afternoon I am sending this communication, however, our Midland PS stakeholders may be confused about a false message/accusation that has resurfaced this week and is gaining traction in the social media realm, he wrote. Bathrooms! Imagine being such a tone deaf journalist that you miss the whole point that this is about transphobia and mocking trans people., WTF cares. At the school sit-down, concerned parent Lisa Hansen said she was really disturbed after reportedly learning from a student that at least one of our schools in our town, in one of the unisex bathrooms, a litter box for the kids that identify as cats. Symptoms include a fever, which is worsened by spending lots of time in conservative culture war fever swamps. May 31DICKINSON In schools across the United States, a growing trend of students identifying themselves with the "fursona" of cats, dogs, ponies and more. The rumor has been spreading persistently, but was unfounded each time: An Iowa superintendentsent a letterto parents to dispel the myth. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. He doesn't have to travel that far if he's in the mood for a nightcap; he just has to go through one single door. Danger! The same story has been debunked elsewhere in Iowa and in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. A furry. In his statement, Sharrow said it was "unconscionable that this afternoon I am sending this communication. The truth has been declawed. 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. Well, kind of. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The bizarre rumor pertains to a school in Michigan's Midland Public Schools District, Parents have claimed that at least one litter box was installed in a unisex bathroom for children who identify themselves as 'furries', Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow outright dismissed the rumors, A parent referenced the bizarre claim in a Dec. 20 meeting, A furry is someone who role-plays or identifies as an animal, or an animal character with human-like characteristics. 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 . A furry is someone who role-plays or identifies as an animal, or an animal character with human-like characteristics. Supposedly this is real. O'Furr, who has traced the origins of the litter box urban legend, dates the hoax to at least 2008. Published: Feb. 11, 2022 at 1:39 PM PST. 0. Meanwhile on TikTok, one video claiming "kids are now requesting litter boxes at school" collected 3 million views on the platform. I know what my folks would have done if I had notions like that. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson. (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 restrooms. "Let me be clear in this communication. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Go figure: The social media criticisms flew fast and furry-ous. Locker rooms! It all started with one Michigan school board meeting where a parent went on a strange rant after she "discovered" that her school is putting litter boxes in bathrooms. Im entitled not to accept mental illness as a real thing. They dont literally think that theyre cats or dogs, or whatever, and theyre not asking schools to put litter boxes in, or any of this nonsense.. Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. If a student who identifies as a coyote tries to kill and eat a student who identifies as a cat, is the teacher allowed to interfere? Kersten initiated an effort to send the senator bags of kitty litter. Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. A district patron asked the school board at its meeting last week if this . "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. A number of politicians, including U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), have propagated similar claims as well. by Kathie Obradovich, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 14, 2022. Supposedly, a female student was identifying as a cat. And what they need right now is acceptance and understanding, not further exclusion and alienation.. . She also claimed that the nefarious practice was part of a nationwide agenda being pushed within the education system. 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