It was attended by 406 people. Whats unfortunate is then youre answering questions or dealing with topics like [the hoax] as opposed to all the good things that are going on in the classrooms and what were really here to do, educate the students.. In April, three Republican lawmakers in Minnesota took turns during floor debate discussing rumors theyd heard about children identifying as cats at school, cutting holes in uniforms for tails and possibly using litter boxes. Associate professor, Social Development Studies, University of Waterloo. Please wait for the page to reload. Mick Pratt of Westbrook wears her Pixil fursuit at a convention in Chicago in December. The boss added, Let me be clear in this communication. The 30-year-old lives in Skowhegan and works at the local Walmart. Harmful misinformation about furries is running rampant on social media and even being promoted to some school boards. The litter boxes rumor circulated on social media and local radio shows earlier this year. However, misunderstanding furries was mainstream long before it became political. Others wear partials. Bunny Hawkins displays her Walmart nametag. The four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year speak during a panel on Jan. 12 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. In the U.S., some groups have the idea we are indoctrinating kids for all these extreme views, he says. 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. The post quickly went viral, racking up nearly 860,000 video views on Twitter. Mick Pratt, 35, of Westbrook designed her partial costume and her character. The district where Columbine High School is located has been stocking classrooms with small amounts of cat litter since 2017, but as part of go buckets that contain emergency supplies in case students are locked in a classroom during a shooting. It was also unfairly and inaccurately used to ostracize LGBTQ students, who are not necessarily part of the furries subculture, in which people dress up as animals. Ms. Hansen also says in the video that she plans to do more investigation into the issue. Were his actions justified? And Joe Rogan, a comedian and podcast host, said he knew of a school that was offering litter boxes to students on the Oct. 11 episode of his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. Rogan also backtracked on his claims, saying it doesnt seem that theres any proof that they put the litter box in there on a later podcast episode. It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you, he wrote. ), Last week, Joe Rogan, a prominent podcast host, said he has an unidentified friend whos married to a woman who works at an unidentified school that installed a litter box for a student who identifies as an animal.. When they dont like something, they hiss and get this, get this, theyre putting litter boxes [in schools] for them.. Pratt, who works at Bull Moose headquarters in Portland as the marketing/social media manager, has attended more than 100 conventions. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) A rumor going around on social media has been raising some eyebrows. However, the term furry fandom was being used in online magazines as early as 1983 and had become the standard name for the genre by the mid-1990s, according to the Wikipedia entry. The first group is those who read the headline and had to know what this craziness was even about. Furries are part of an established subculture that has existed for decades. A Facebook post says schools are putting litter boxes in bathrooms to accommodate kids who identify as furries. One school district was accused of putting cat litter boxes in school bathrooms for students who identify as "furries," but the superintendent of Michigan's Midland . Theres a community aspect and a character aspect.. The furries-in-kindergarten myth was repeated by at least 20 candidates and officials this year, the report found, but none of the school districts mentioned actually offered litter boxes for . But the claim has taken on a life of its own among a growing number of Republicans, conservative influencers and political commentators. Furries are about 50% more likely than others to have been bullied as children, according to Plante. Bunny considers herself a furry those who enjoy dressing like an animal. The specific claim that schools are providing litter boxes for students who identify as cats or furries seemed to first emerge in 2021, targeting the Prince Edward Island's Public Schools Branch . Mr. Sharrow, the superintendent, citing a backdrop of this divisive/contentious world in which we currently find ourselves, urged parents to contact him if rumors like this surfaced again. A Facebook post says schools are putting litter boxes in bathrooms to accommodate kids who identify as furries. And it demonstrates how quickly some elements of truth can be twisted and mashed up with fully debunked assertions to create a viral narrative amplified by prominent politicians, as well as commentators with large audiences. Abbotts attacks: Its a campaign of terror, As elections near, racist appeals receive little GOP pushback. Litter boxes will not be put in schools on P.E.I. Within a few months, similar rumors began to spread in the U.S., where they quickly became culture war fodder. We have more than enough to do in teacher education than to debunk false stories. So, my parents were saying that a school board in Skowhegan, or, doesn't really matter, had a meeting to allow kids who identify as furries to defecate and pee in school. Its only used to kind of sensationalize untruth, and to harm our community, in particular our transgender, nonbinary and gender-expansive youth, said Nadine Bridges, executive director of One Colorado, an LGBTQ rights organization, when asked about the litter box rumors. Will the arrest of Ovidio Guzmn, son of infamous cartel leader El Chapo, help Mexicos war on drugs? Talk about a health violation!! People go because its an opportunity to wear fursuits and to be around other furries, she said. Furries, and what it means and what it is, and what some people are trying to make it out to be are two very different things, she said. Will That Erode Trust? [Someone who] cosplays as Captain Kirk is unlikely to show up for work on Monday and demand that their phone be replaced with a Star Fleet Communicator, she said. It really allows you to be an idealized version of yourself. Furries . The "furry protocol" rumor is the newest wrinkle in a series of false claims concerning absurd behavior in schools. Rich Abrahamson/ Morning Sentinel. Furries are a subculture of people who dress up as anthropomorphic animal characters, sometimes developing online fursonas and attending conventions, one of which, Anthro New England, is scheduled for January in Boston. Terry Brenner, superintendent, Grand Forks school district, Grand Forks, N.D. But that didnt stop Meshawn Maddock, a leader of the Michigan Republican party, from sharing it on Facebook and spreading it further, according to reporting from the New York Times. So far, the Rumor Has It page has been helpful in combatting harmful rumors and gathering positive feedback from the community, Grand Forks Superintendent Terry Brenner said. Many people think that furries dress up as animals. bizarre concession at a Dec. 20 board meeting. You can be literally whatever you want., Her character, Pixil, has been described as bubbly, Pratt said. It gives extra power to the most vociferous, smaller groups, he says. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff. 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. Her favorite breakout group has been with psychologists who are furries, she said. While many furries have no interest in acquiring a fursuit at all, they can also be prohibitively expensive. Parent heroes will TAKE BACK our schools.. We've received your submission. At the same time, furries such as Joe Strike are taking the high road, and believe that, over time, the community will benefit the increasingly de-stigmatized and mainstream subculture. 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.. She attended her first furry event in 2016 and got her fursuit in 2020. Studies and surveys show that furries are mostly male and white, and likely to not be straight. Ive always been pretty outgoing, but its nice to be even more outgoing.. For media inquiries, please contact media@northeastern.edu. The second group has heard this same rumor at their own . Surveys and pre-publication research from Furscience also indicate that the vast majority are LGBTQ and as many as a third are transgender. They talk about why people like being furries. That's when a local news story about a Pittsburgh furry convention led to unfounded. It takes hard work to avoid being unfairly judged as pushy, aggressive, or emotionalwhile still sticking to your principles. Some politicians issued warnings about children acting as cats during debates regarding school policies related to transgender and nonbinary youth. In other words, if you removed all the sexual content, there would still be a furry fandom. Weve lost our minds.. Some say litter boxes are located in transgender bathrooms in schools. Some believe they dress that way all the time. The litter box rumor isnt the first hoax of its kind to circulate aboutand throughoutschools. It becomes a distraction from what it is that were trying to do on a daily basis, he said. People have sex and furries are people. Ive actually made new friends at school because of it, Dayna said in an email. Powers, the headmaster of Pinkerton Academy, said the rumors take resources away from academics and student learning and ultimately frustrate an already tired staff. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. The increasing political nature of the rumors prompted the Grand Forks school district in North Dakota to establish a Rumor Has It page on its website, which debunks false information about the district providing litter boxes for students and teaching critical race theory. ET. to accommodate students who identify as cats, the Public Schools Branch says. It then popped up in a number of communities as the 2022 midterms campaign season gained traction. She doesnt feel super different in costume, she said. The litter boxes in schools hoax (also called the litter box canard) [1] [2] is a false rumor alleging that certain North American schools provide litter boxes in bathrooms for students who "identify as cats", or who participate in the furry or otherkin subcultures. Educators know their students, Young says, adding they do their best to create relationships and connections that foster safe environments for learning. Brenner found the hoax in his school community to be purposefully deceitful and part of an overarching political agenda to sow distrust in public schools. The superintendent of the school claims the woman's story is "not true". As AI writing tools rapidly evolve, learn how to set standards and expectations for your students on their use. The dress code is pretty flexible, she said. She gave the example of a far-more mainstream Star Trek convention. Educators of color say its often another person seeing their potential and pushing themthat got them into leadership. An unfounded anecdote about kitty litter boxes for role-playing students in public schools is the rumor that just won't quit, and especially in certain political circles. Why would you attack our most vulnerable to get your point across, especially since the point is baseless?. If you allow furries in school then students should be allowed to bring their German shepherd comfort animal. In other words, the litter box myth is dumb, but its not benign. A Michigan school district has debunked a wild claim that a school provided litter boxes for students who identified as furries people who dress up as anthropomorphic animals. The "litter boxes in schools" hoax (also called the litter box canard) is a false rumor alleging that certain North American schools provide litter boxes in bathrooms for students who "identify as cats", or who participate in the furry or otherkin subcultures. Ive studied more than 40,000 furries from 70 different countries over a decade, she said. Anyone can read what you share. Rumors that Maine school districts have been forced to provide litter boxes to animal-identifying children have circulated since last fall. Me and my two brain cells figured that out, scoffed one critic. Humans can find intimate connections when they gather, but its not usually the reason they engaged in the activity. They tend to be younger, however the ones who attend conventions are older than those who partake in online furry communities. Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide elementary, middle, high school and more. The academy tweeted that political candidates are welcome to visit the campus before making claims about what occurs here.. Prior to the litter box rumours, furries were seen as sexual deviants an idea that was reinforced by popular media that emphasized the sensational over facts. The Jefferson County school district disputed Ganahls claims and said its dress code prohibits costumes at school. Is it possible that somewhere someone has asked for a litter box? 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.. Like Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, team mascots. The fandom is centered around an interest in anthropomorphism, or human characteristics given to animals, according to Sharon Roberts, co-founder of a furry research group called Furscience. It is unconscionable that this afternoon I am sending this communication, the superintendent of Midland Public Schools, Michael Sharrow, wrote on Thursday in an email to parents that was also shared on Facebook. Log in to join the discussion. The rumor of litter boxes in schools appears to have begun among parents on social media, and one of the first schools to confront the falsehood was in Canada last fall. The fandom provides a social network for its members, and furries can benefit tremendously from these friendships. She wears a bunny tail, ears and a mask. She legally changed her name to Bunny. Williamson explained that she understood the litter box would be for students who identify as "furries." Wormstadt said Friday he had spoken with school administrators about the topic and. How an urban myth about litter boxes in schools became a GOP talking point At least 20 Republican politicians have claimed that schools are making accommodations for students who identify. 13, 2022 7:00 am, Updated: May. 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. The inclusive nature of the furry fandom means that, for many furries, its a safe place where they can be their most authentic selves. 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, according to an NBC News review of public statements. I think its an agenda that has been started by a small minority group and a political wing, said Brenner, who emphasized he was speaking about his own personal opinion and not on behalf of the district. Droits d'auteur 20102023, The Conversation France (assoc. Courtesy of AASA, The School Superintendents Association. There Appears to Be No Truth Behind Maine Kids Using Litter Boxes at School. Litter boxes in schools South Dakota, Furries in schools, Furries in Iowa schools litter box, Litter boxes in schools Fargo, Bath Iron Works litter box, Kids identifying as furries, Bath Iron Works furries Reply. We are, after all, talking about a Republican physician who has spoken out against Covid vaccines and condemned efforts to stop the spread of the virus. If your knowledge of furries. It began as a large quest for self-discovery. Bunny Hawkins of Skowhegan really likes bunnies, so she decided to become one. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Theyre putting litter boxes, right? I wish I was making this up.. A member of the public who spoke at the meeting, Lisa Hansen, says in the video that she was informed by someone the day before the meeting that litter boxes had been added to the unisex bathrooms for students who identify as cats., I was stunned, Ms. Hansen says in the video.

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