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 Furries like to create a character that is basically what would I be if I was an animal cartoon character but we dont believe we ARE animals, its just like cosplaying any other character in media except its one you create yourself. 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. Bizarre moment woman turns up at McDonald's drive-thru on a HORSE. The rumor had also been peddled on Facebook by the co-chair of the Michigan GOP, Meshawn Maddock. In February The Carroll Community School District in Iowa also sent a message to parents saying rumours of them accommodating students identifiying as cats, and adding kitty litter boxes to bathrooms were not true. 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. Ethan started an online petition to allow transgender students to use public restrooms at Spirit Lake schools on Monday and it has received more than 700 signatures so far. "Apparently, from what I understand, theyre called 'furries,'" the grandmother, who asked to remain anonymous, told WLKY. Obviously, this is the influence of some subculture or movement where it is necessary to behave like an animal. Feline humor, news and stories about the ongoing adventures of Buddy the Cat. Its more of a role-playing type thing that some people do to express themselves in a different way. McHugh deemed the current treatment of transgender children reckless and irresponsible. He also argued against allowing children to transition and equated the process to frontal lobotomies. He also stated that there would be negative long-term consequences of allowing children hormonal treatment and transitioning. "They identify with animals. If these student animals are so messed in the head, lets treat them like a cat or dog! & Now some schools are also allowing litter boxes??!!. Students in Wilkes County, North Carolina, "identify themselves as cats or 'furries'" and "have asked for litter boxes to be placed in school restrooms for them to use." Its a lot easier to weather calls for cancellation when youve been around for 20 years, youve made billions for your parent company and you have a contract that keeps you on TV for years yet. Everyone should be sympathetic to her plight, but people should not be enabling her delusions. And the school was allowing kitty litter to be placed in the classroom or bathroom or both. It doesn't make sense," she added. Spreading widely rumors that there are public school students identifying as cats, and that those students are being accommodated by schools providing kitty litter in the bathrooms. Fact check: No, schools aren't providing litter boxes for students who identify as furries. ! wrote Carroll resident Shelly Loew on Facebook, in a now-deleted Monday post of which Iowa Capital Dispatch obtained screenshots. Real-life furries: I am a not a cat litter box joke - New York Post I warned you guys about this. They are acting just as described in this article. "Yesterday I heard something, and I was stunned. Im convinced theyre trying to suck us up into their world of crazy . 20006, Florida First, the obvious, or perhaps not-so-obvious considering the media attention and outrage surrounding both stories: Neither one is true. Alex Murdaugh trial: Murderer sentenced to consecutive life sentences after being found guilty. The school reportedly said in a statement that its students were demonstrating a range of issues from mental health, anxiety or identity issues. Its a safe bet that the girl identifying as a cat fits this description. The spokesperson wrote to parents that students were wearing items not school-appropriate. These items include collars and leather straps with spikes. In Kentucky a spokesperson for a school said a TikTok trend has students making animal noises toward each other specifically barking. This is definitely going on in schools. 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. Michigan State University suspect is 22-year-old Raymone Jordan., Wisconsin school district does not have furry protocol, Nebraska lawmaker apologizes for debunked litter box claim, Carroll Community School District superintendent: No litter boxes in schools, Furries eating out of dog bowls at school? So 2 middle school kids are allowed to identify as cats and go to school? It's actually happening. Alternatively have them DNA tested. Sharrow said the rumor was recently brought up by a parent during a school board meeting on December 20 and has since been shared widely online. At a Midland public schools meeting, a parent brings up "furries," saying she "heard" at least one school in the district is providing a litter box for kids that identify as cats. Last October the Twin Falls School District (TFSD) in Idaho issued a statement denying there was a group of disruptive cat-identifying students at any of their facilities. The same falsehood also circulated in an Iowa district, and a congressional candidate in Texas tweeted that school cafeteria tables were being "lowered" to accommodate students identifying as . "President Biden confirm(ed) everyone will receive their $1k gas checks this week!! 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. Since then, schools in Iowa . FUR-REAL: Iowa students, parents report kids wearing collars, barking, hissing as furries, Des Moines teacher talks about how she works around law banning CRT in class, LETTER: Axne ignoring what is happening to America, Constitutional amendment protecting parental rights in education reintroduces by Rep. Lesko, Hinson Continues to Champion Parental Rights, Bishop Reintroduces Legislation to Fully Defund Critical Race Theory, School Cafeteria Tables Are Being Lowered for "Furries" Texas Monthly - News Point Club, Pixel Scroll 1/27/22 All Ringworlds Great And Small | File 770, Pixel Scroll 1/27/22 All Ringworlds Great And Small - Newzlab. Lisa Hansen asked other parents to join her to do some investigating into the policy, 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, Hansen told the Midland school board. 801 3rd St. S Loew did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Iowa Republican crusade against transgender kids continues, School choice isnt enough for Iowa Republicans. The enabling of this behavior is halping people with legitimate mental health issues get applause instead of the medical help they truly need. And though school districts have issued statements debunking the story multiple times, some social media posts are still spreading the erroneous information. Staff members are not encouraging or accommodating anyone behaving or identifying as a cat or any other animal, Superintendent Casey Berlau said Tuesday in a note to parents in the western Iowa district. But according to Superintendent Mark Martin, a petition isn't needed. It all ended in a big fight that caused massive property damage to the school. Nebraska senator retracts claim of litter boxes for students - KLKN-TV I was not fired," she concludes. You'll probably be catphobic if you refuse to pet them. 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. A Nebraska state lawmaker apologized after he publicly cited a debunked rumor alleging that schools are placing litter boxes in school bathrooms to accommodate children who self-identify as cats . The false claim that children who identify as cats are using litter boxes in school bathrooms has spread across the internet since at least December, when a member of the public brought it up at a . We should all be sympathetic to these people, which is why we should not enable any of their delusions. pic.twitter.com/fNxye7LPBL Left of Center MI (@leftofcentermi) January 20, 2022 He said the costumes violate the school dress code: Frankly, with all the unbelievably dopey Tik-Tok challenges out there, its not out of the realm of possibility that some kid, somewhere, has decided to try to emulate a cat to that extreme. I dont take a political position and will not, as its important for all cat lovers to feel comfortable reading the site and participating in discussions. Carroll schools try to dispel 'damaging' rumors about students More people are discussing students identifying as cats in schools I just always had a fascination with cats and I felt myself, I'm a cat. 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 . Imagine that! Kentucky school district: Students are dressing and acting like cats - WLWT Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Urinating and defication in a litter box, for others to clean up is unsanitary and quite frankly disgusting. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Superintendent denies rumors of litter boxes in restrooms for students 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. Some develop elaborate video-game personas. Go to the bathroom in a toilet and flush. Monique Curet , PolitiFact. A high school in Kentucky is having a "furry" problem and if you don't It looks like it isnt just happening in Iowa, thankfullyI guess? Kentucky school district: Students are dressing and acting like cats. stated on February 13, 2023 in social media posts. On trips, instead of cartoons, I asked them. "Teacher fired for not playing along with a student who identifies as a cat. I dont want to lose readers by wading into a political landmine field, but most importantly I dont want anyone to feel unwelcome on this site. This is sadly happening, and even in rural, conservative, farm country, Iowa. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. Texas district debunks GOP hopefuls claim, Fact check: No, a Michigan public school did not provide litter boxes for students identifying as cats. Taylor, doesnt your school have acting, dance, music, and art classes where you can express yourselves? High school principal says there's no truth to rumor of litter boxes