And though school districts have issued statements debunking the story multiple times, some social media posts are still spreading the erroneous information. But the cost of using transgender kids as pawns in the war against teachers unions is much higher. 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. Fifth, they need to be spayed or neutered cause these are the types of people that should not be allowed to breed! In the message, Berlau writes, 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 . The rumor is that our schools have litter boxes in the restrooms to accommodate individuals who are self-identifying as animals. "Our community needs to understand that the agenda that is being pushed through our schools, in my opinion, is somewhat nefarious when it comes to some of the activities.". What in the world is happening? A Nebraska state lawmakerpublicly repeatedthe claim then apologized when he learned it wasnt true. Actually, I was listening to Simon Conway talk about this today, and it apparently IS going on in IOWA schools. Urinating and dedication in a litter box, for others to clean up is unsanitary and quite frankly disgusting. 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 . Yeah, unfortunately. Litter boxes will not be put in schools on P.E.I. She also claimed that the nefarious practice was part of a nationwide agenda being pushed within the education system. This is about stupidity not transphobia. bizarre concession at a Dec. 20 board meeting. "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. "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. Somehow, it always comes back to money. The superintendent of the school claims the woman's story is "not true". Advertisment: In late 2021 and early 2022, a rumor spread far and wide that conflated distinct groups of people: furries (or the furry fandom) and the transgender/gender diverse community. Supposedly this is real. In the video, she mentions a group called "furries" which according to Merriam Webster refers to. Linn-Mars entirely reasonable decision has become the latest target of the recklessly unreasonable and perpetually outraged. All these harmful, spiteful tactics targeting Iowans and their rights for a political payday carry an unmistakable stench. 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. Urinating and defication in a litter box, for others to clean up is unsanitary and quite frankly disgusting. 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 week, on the same day Iowa Capital Dispatch published the Carroll litter box story, lawmakers were debating bills to ban transgender girls participation on womens sports teams and throw educators in jail for making obscene literature available to students. Superintendent denies rumors of litter boxes in restrooms for students who identify as cats, Carroll School District Superintendent Casey Burlau denied the litter box rumors in a letter to students and parents. Leave them alone. "It is unconscionable that this afternoon I . Kim Reynolds and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson. School districts in Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska have debunked claims that they are providing litter boxes in bathrooms. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. 13, 2022 4:31 pm. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. STURGIS "It's a social-media myth," Meade School District Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt said of the rumor that people are requesting litter boxes be placed in local schools for students who Primary school teacher who punched and kicked horse 11-year-old reads aloud from 'pornographic' book he checked out from library at school board meeting, Influencer refuses to switch business class seats so family can sit together, Top NFL prospect racing, driving recklessly in crash that killed teammate, staffer: cops, Fking heartless Kristin Cavallari admits to recently dumping guy via text, The Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner eyebrow drama, explained, Lisa Hochstein confirms shes dating great Jody Glidden amid Lenny divorce, Good luck 'worming' your way out of this one, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. 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 . Find out more about how we use your information in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Same thing, wear ears, wear hooded onesies with ears and tails, purr, etc. Nati Harnik AP. That's when a local news story about a Pittsburgh furry convention led to unfounded . De-clawing and neutering, ha! Its absurd, and its mean-spirited, and it is absolutely not the focus we should be having right now, Cobb said. (Photo by pixelfit/Getty Images). The real goal with comparing furries to trans people and bringing up stuff like this is, one, to make fun of furries and say, Oh, arent they so silly. His houseguests are transported to a classic speakeasy with the push of a secret door in his home. There are no litter boxes in the restrooms of the Carroll Community School District, its superintendent stressed, despite internet rumors that some schools are installing them for . 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). Fact check: No, schools aren't providing litter boxes for students who identify as furries. Texas district debunks GOP hopefuls claim, Fact check: No, a Michigan public school did not provide litter boxes for students identifying as cats. 0:45. 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. 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. 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). Members of the "furries" fantasy subculture tell The Post they're not wild about this week . In 2021 and 2022, various American conservative and far-right politicians and . The litter box canard also serves another political purpose: Trying to scare parents. If your child thinks they are a cat or a dog then you failed as a parent. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. (319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com, Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. [] reports have popped up elsewhere. If youve ever used the phrase Fake News now YOU can actually DO something about it! 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. No. A Facebook post detailing the hilarious rumor is blowing up online. Eastern Iowa Woman Cashes in $250,000 Lottery Prize, Former Hawkeye Standout Keegan Murray Has A Shot At NBA Record, Extremely Common Animal Found In Iowa Is Illegal To Own As A Pet. Why is damn near everything the GOP pushes anchored in manufactured fear? Todd Dorman. Rumors have now begun circulating in Dickinson and other Western Edge communities that have sparked more than one phone call to The Dickinson Press with questions on whether the school district has, or will be, installing litter boxes in its restrooms. Im entitled not to accept mental illness as a real thing. They're furious. Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! No wonder the kids are not learning! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. 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.. Stop pretending that everything you hear is an attack of some sort. 2. You can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls. It looks like it isnt just happening in Iowa, thankfullyI guess? A senator repeated a long-disproven hoax about children who identify as cats using litter boxes and shitting on the floor in schools on Monday, in the latest absurdity to come out of . Bostelman is the latest Republican state leader to repeat discredited rumors of students identifying as "furries" and demanding cat litter at school. to accommodate students who identify as cats, the Public Schools Branch says. I just cant believe this is real, sputtered one incredulous commenter, while another wrote, Whats going on in this town?. The Carroll Community School District Superintendent, Casey Burlau, sent a letter to concerned citizens in the hopes of "dispelling a damaging rumor" that there are children identifying as animals (some call them "furries") and the district has tried to accommodate them with litter boxes. I think we need some intervention on these kids and parents. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. But just like with book bans, furry fearmongering is translating into state law: The Cedar Rapids Gazette reported this week that the Iowa Senate has passed new laws enshrining further parental . 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.. litter boxes in schools for furries maine. Some people laughed at how absurd it is that school kids are supposedly . I never thought I would have to type the following words: schools are not putting litter boxes in their bathrooms. February 14, 2022 8:00 am. Dont think its not happening in your area because it probably is. They are acting just as described in this article. Ernie Kersten had been at the Eggs and Issues legislative forum in Fort Dodge, where state Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, went on a curious riff about why Iowa needs to offer publicly funded scholarships to help families send kids to private school. A furry. The personalized animal identity of a furry is known as their fursona, the portmanteau of furry and persona. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. I first did not believe it when my granddaughter told me about this. And that is what is missing if you know what I mean. A school had to send an email putting this rumor to rest. In a phone conversation with The Dickinson Press, Superintendent Marcus Lewton denied that Dickinson Public Schools has or will be installing any litter boxes in its restrooms. "So, now in schools, if a kid wants to identify as a furry, the school goes along with it?," read an April 4 Facebookpost. A couple of weeks ago we received an email. ", Popular Mobile Games You Must Play In 2023. And the school was allowing kitty litter to be placed in the classroom or bathroom or both. "Let me be clear in this communication. 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. School litter box fever will not die in Iowa. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. Iowa is being plagued by multiple cases of what Im diagnosing as a strain of cat scratch fever. litter boxes in schools for furries maine. The thing is, these things are happening in Iowa on a regular basis and nobody knows about it, because the media doesnt cover these things.. 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. Once you see through this political cat-and-mouse game, the litter box story just seems doggone sad. We've received your submission. Debunking myths about kids identifying as animals, and litter boxes in schools. From the Morning Sun: Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow took to Facebook Thursday, addressing false rumors that litter box accommodations were being made for students who identify as "furries.". View our online Press Pack. 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. This is simply and emphatically not true, Burlau wrote. The district denied the allegation, but then just a couple of days later we were told about students identifying as cats in another district. When my granddaughter told me about this a furry is known as their fursona, portmanteau! 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