litter boxes in schools for furries maine

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 Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] - A hearing of a Tennessee Legislature Committee has surpassed thousands of views online, where two state lawmakers report that their constituents say that there are children in Tennessee identifying as "furries" being allowed to use the restroom in litter boxes at school. This claim as well as many others are simply false and are causing unnecessary stress to students and staff, Norbert Carpenter, the director of schools, said in the post. "It is unconscionable that this afternoon I . As too many Republicans and their allies push the school litter box myth, it's important to remember that while the claims are dumb, they're not benign. Some politicians issued warnings about children acting as cats during debates regarding school policies related to transgender and nonbinary youth. Libs of TikTok noted as much in a subsequent tweet, but questioned why no one said so at the school board meeting, where some people applauded after Hansen spoke. Droits d'auteur 20102023, The Conversation France (assoc. 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.. Bunny Hawkins sports pink hair and a bunny mask at her home in Skowhegan last week. 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. 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. In mass media, furries are usually associated with sexual fetishes, the website says, but the most-cited draw to the furry fandom is its sense of belongingness, recreation, and escape from the mundaneness of daily life.. What are the top sellers at the Northeastern University bookstore this holiday season? Some furries wear full costumes with built-in fans to keep them from getting too warm. Libby Stanford is a reporter for Education Week. The litter box rumor is so attention grabbing its just the sort of thing to go viral on the internet, Galguera says. She doesnt feel super different in costume, she said. Thats the case for furries, too. Counter-protestors stand and hold signs at the intersection of 10th Street and . There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools.. We've received your submission. 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. Pratt belongs to the Facebook group Furries of Portland Maine, which has 252 members. 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. Olivia, 16, from California, said shes been part of the furry community for six years. 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. Awareness of what's occurring outside of school can be beneficialor a hierarchical hell in the wrong hands, Michael Fullan says. Mick Pratt of Westbrook wears her Pixil fursuit at a convention in Chicago in December. bizarre concession at a Dec. 20 board meeting. I think that, in the long run, this kind of attention will help us, Joe Strike, who identifies as a furry and penned the 2017 book Furry Nation told The Post. Many of these assertions claim that schools have or are in the process of having litter boxes placed in schools.. The rumor that furries people who have an interest in anthropomorphic animal characters and sometimes dress up as them used litter boxes in the school district, which is about two hours northwest of Detroit, appears to have started at a school board session last month, based on a video of the meeting. Lisa Hansen addressing the board during a Midland Public Schools meeting in Michigan last month. Is it possible that somewhere someone has asked for a litter box? Its fascinating to see smart, common sense people get sucked into the narrative and actually believe its happeningthat we have students dressing up like animals, that we have litter boxes in our schools, Brenner said. C. May 5, . While the district's superintendent assured WLWT that this furry gear is, in fact, a dress code violation, that hasn't seemed to ease the worries of the anonymous student who started the petition. Some fursuits are phenomenally engineered with fans, cooling packs and LED lights built into them. Voir les partenaires de TheConversation France. The writer, not identified by name, posted a piece in October alleging confirmed reports of furries employed at Bath Iron Works. How can both countries benefit from the deal? Will That Erode Trust? Also this month, GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert told an audience in her home state of Colorado that educators are putting litter boxes in schools for people who identify as cats. Around the same time, Ed Thelander, a Republican congressional candidate in Maine, touted the same myth. That has not stopped such rumors from circulating on social media, where they have been repeated like a game of telephone, often with descriptions of friends of friends who supposedly saw such things firsthand. Q&A with Mills College at Northeastern library director Janice Braun. What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? From abortion to book bans, critical race theory and transgender rights, much political rhetoric in the run-up to the mid-term elections in the United States has centered around culture war issues. Join our webinar to learn from experts on how to create safe spaces using neuroscience and trauma-informed approaches. They tend to be younger, however the ones who attend conventions are older than those who partake in online furry communities. She declined to connect NBC News with any parents or teachers shes spoken with. 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. Thats not a big leap from her natural optimism and cheerfulness, she said. Whats interesting is how many people are repeating it in an effort to make it a thing, says Young, who is also faculty lead for the McFarland Scholars program at Northeastern.. Breakout sessions are held for specific groups, such as people in fox suits or deer suits, Pratt said. Furries are people who have an interest in anthropomorphism, which specifically refers to giving human characteristics to animals. I believe there will be three types of people that read this. Lets focus on whats really in front of us and not make up stuff.. Some politicians issued warnings about children acting as cats during debates regarding school policies related to transgender and nonbinary youth. 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. Some children, she alleged, would only communicate in barks and hisses. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. Now were going to talk about litter boxes and bathrooms and kids, thats what were talking about now? Pinkerton Academy Headmaster Tim Powers said. March 8, 2022 A TikTok video of a mother at a school boarding meeting went viral in which she says she heard Michigan schools were providing litter boxes for furries students who. That same day, Sharrow took to Facebook to clarify that the rumor was, in fact, false. Were a small group of interdisciplinary professors who have studied furries and other fan groups for more than 15 years. Powers and his team posted a statement on the schools Twitter account refuting Bolducs claims. You get to interact with others in the same sphere. As my colleague, Courtney Plante, says: For most folks, dehydration, lack of feeling or seeing anything, overheating and clumsiness are not conducive to sexual arousal. In a message to the school district, Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow argued against the claims of litter boxes being provided for students that "identify as cats." (hutchyb // Canva) MIDLAND . 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.. Kymera, 14, of Colorado, said being a furry is just a hobby, akin to being a mascot. In other words, if you removed all the sexual content, there would still be a furry fandom. A study on furries led by Canadian college professor Dr. Kathy Gerbasi and published in the journal Society & Animals found that approximately 25% of those surveyed considered themselves less than 100% human and would become 0% human if they could. The litter boxes rumor circulated on social media and local radio shows earlier this year. The litter box rumor isnt the first hoax of its kind to circulate aboutand throughoutschools. The fandom also has seen negative press from the media, she said. Others wear partials. Thanks for contacting us. The organized appreciation and dissemination of art and prose regarding fictional mammalian anthropomorphic characters.. What fitness marketers dont tell you about New Years resolutions. 1901), Lexpertise universitaire, lexigence journalistique. As AI writing tools rapidly evolve, learn how to set standards and expectations for your students on their use. Primary school teacher who punched and kicked horse Carole Baskins dead husband found alive but no one noticed last year, I went to McDonalds drive-thru for lunch but left with bags of cash instead, Ex-'SNL' star talks MLK Jr. 'penis' statue in 'Daily Show' debut: 'Can't unsee it', Sutton Stracke: I want to fight bossy ex-RHOBH co-star Lisa Rinna, Jim Edmonds says ex Meghan Kings lies about him are fking annoying, Conor Kennedy gifts pal Andrew Warren rare Dior purse at Miami bash, Kitten born with same 'Zorro' mask as her father, Shakira allegedly discovered Gerard Piqu's cheating because of a jam jar. Fursonas can be a safe, functional way for furries to explore who they are as people. The fungal zombies in HBOs The Last of Us are based on real, horrifying biology, An amazing opportunity. Ontario education minister praises experiential learning at Toronto campus, Dates, times finalized for Northeasterns 2023 Boston commencements and college celebrations, Open, reservable study spaces on Boston campus as Snell Library undergoes renovations. Far from merely identifying as felines, furries are an anthropomorphic community whose members sometimes dress up as a variety of animals at conventions, or who have a special fursona with whom they connect. Kids who identify as furries get a litter box in the school bathroom, Ms. Maddock wrote in a Facebook post sharing the video of the board meeting. Furries . 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. Strike pointed out that only a small minority of furries even dress up as their fursonas. A Facebook post detailing the hilarious rumor is blowing up online. I ordered a bunny outfit on a whim and ended up really loving it.. He describes the costumes as suits of armor, allowing people to express themselves while remaining somewhat anonymous. NSF official wants to catalyze research partnerships to tackle pressing societal challenges. Its offensive to our teachers, to our principals, to our students. In late October, Don Bolduc, the Republican U.S. Senate nominee in New Hampshire, claimed schools were offering litter boxes for students who identified as cats and are part of the furries. I wouldnt say theres more [hoaxes], theres just more of a need to respond because parents, students, staff, community members are getting that information faster and from different sources, she said. Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more. Tyler Kingkade is a national reporter for NBC News, based in Los Angeles. Furries allowed to defecate in schools. Research also indicates that a fursona can help facilitate interactions with others and result in more social confidence. Terry Brenner, superintendent, Grand Forks school district, Grand Forks, N.D. I have seen dog bowls and giant straws used to feed furries at a restaurant, but this was an inside joke between a small local business and Anthrocon an annual furry convention held in Pittsburgh which brings millions of dollars to the local economy and raises thousands of dollars for animal-related charities. This thing has gotten out of control with politicians just wanting to have a talking point, said John McDonald, former director of campus safety at Jefferson County schools, whos now a school security consultant. Associate professor, Social Development Studies, University of Waterloo. Powers and his staff had to respond quickly, pulling together a statement to publish on social media on a Sunday night. That's when a letter sent recently to Renfrew-area newspapers claimed a local school was providing cat litter in a washroom for a student who identifies as a "furry," or animal, causing an . Why would you attack our most vulnerable to get your point across, especially since the point is baseless?. Litter Boxes in Schools: How a Disruptive and Demeaning Hoax Frustrated School Leaders. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, I keep 7 rats as pets theyre not disgusting, I love them, I ordered a cute pair of boots online they were a mess when they arrived, I figured out the secret to getting perfect curls all you need is this kitchen item, I nursed my cheating husband back to health from severe brain trauma then he cheated again, Facebook post detailing the hilarious rumor. There Appears to Be No Truth Behind Maine Kids Using Litter Boxes at School. One of the most recent examples involves a relatively unknown community. Maine 'furries' talk about the fun, friendship and freedom that come from letting your inner animal out. (He later acknowledged his mistake. Logic isn't connecting for me, nor can I google anything about itit, but I am baffled as to why conservatives in our area are now obsessed with furries. Create a free account to save your favorite articles, follow important topics, sign up for email newsletters, and more. This content is provided by our sponsor. Fri., January 20, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you, he wrote. But not everyone ridicules furries, Pratt said. The dress code is pretty flexible, she said. It feels like everyone has an opinion, or heard a rumour, about kids dressing up as animals, calling themselves furries and demanding litter boxes. Therefore, if you identify as a dog or cat you can no longer go to a public school because animals are not allowed. Sometimes transmasc, nonbinary or transfur., Mick Pratt of Westbrook Facebook profile picture, The furry community is primed for trans people to explore new identities, she said. Its unclear exactly where the litter box hoax came from. In December 2021, conservative activist Lisa Hansen claimed at a school board meeting in Midland, Michigan, that an unnamed school in the district had placed a litter box for the kids that identify as cats in a unisex bathroom as part of the agenda thats being pushed. Hansen, who later started a local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a conservative activist group, did not respond to requests for comment. And it has not stopped some politicians from picking up these claims and using them to alarm people by saying that this is where protections for LGBTQ students will lead. Most furries create for themselves an anthropomorphized animal character (fursona) with whom they identify and can function as an avatar within the community, the website says. Some say litter boxes are located in transgender bathrooms in schools. 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. 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. The page also provides information on relevant news items, such as how the district uses the H1-B visa program to hire specialty international workers to fill staffing shortages, and how Grand Forks student ACT scores compare with other students in the area. Ben Goggin is the deputy editor for technology at NBC News Digital. ET. A similar claim from parents that students dressed as cats were bringing litter boxes to Iredell-Statesville Schools led board members to propose a ban on all furry costumes, Queen City. But what about education? Jensen said. In fact, the fandom has been studied and analyzed by the International Anthropomorphic Research Project. Strike said that most furries he encountered grew up with interests in anthropomorphic cartoon characters and now find comfort around others with the same interest. NBC included the information in a report saying the kitty litter box rumors have become a GOP talking point in states including Colorado, Minnesota and Tennessee. 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. The school district called that blogs story completely inaccurate and not something it would permit. The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading & the EdWeek Research Center, reporting from the Colorado Times Recorder. Young says she had to do a bit of diggingand she doesnt apologize for the punon the litter box rumor issue to respond to News@Northeasterns questions on the topic. Conventions typically include art exhibits, dances, vendors selling fursuits, accessories, books and T-shirts. Many people think that furries dress up as animals. Heres why. Will the arrest of Ovidio Guzmn, son of infamous cartel leader El Chapo, help Mexicos war on drugs? Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, put a litter box in one of its bathrooms for the kids that identify as cats,, I keep 7 rats as pets theyre not disgusting, I love them, I ordered a cute pair of boots online they were a mess when they arrived, I figured out the secret to getting perfect curls all you need is this kitchen item, I nursed my cheating husband back to health from severe brain trauma then he cheated again, International Anthropomorphic Research Project, forced to resign when it came to light that he was a furry, Meet Methuselah, the oldest living aquarium fish, Carole Baskin claims her dead husband found alive but no one noticed last year, I went to McDonalds drive-thru for lunch but left with bags of cash instead, Why 'sentimental' Tom Brady press conference has QB rival worried, Kardashians are confused, concerned about Kanye Wests new marriage, Jinger Duggar grew up ruled by fear in cult-like religious family, Sutton Stracke: I want to fight bossy ex-RHOBH co-star Lisa Rinna, Kitten born with same 'Zorro' mask as her father, Shakira allegedly discovered Gerard Piqu's cheating because of a jam jar. People go because its an opportunity to wear fursuits and to be around other furries, she said. Most people wouldnt wear this kind of fan paraphernalia to work or a job interview, and some wouldnt wear it at all. Join us for this event with educators and experts on the current state of equity and what comes next. 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. crivez un article et rejoignez une communaut de plus de 158 000 universitaires et chercheurs de 4 538 institutions.
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