Natalie Pate covers education for the Statesman Journal. Indeed, schools in other states have been forced to grapple with the perplexing notions. Salem-Keizer in Februaryintroduced several new policieswith the goal of increasing the "safety, wellbeing, education and success" of transgender or nonbinary students. Let me be clear in this communication: There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation. In February 2022, the Carroll Community School District in Iowa was accused of providing litter boxes for those who identified as cats. Clark's buzzer-beating three sends #6 Iowa past #2 Indiana 86-85. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. Carroll School District Superintendent Casey Burlau said it got so bad that he had to send a letter to students and parents on Monday. Well, not a little bit, a lot a bit upset furious; I would even use that word, Hansen said. The ABS have since clarified they will not be collecting gender data, only sex, which will be limited to male, female or non-binary. Its absurd, and its mean-spirited, and it is absolutely not the focus we should be having right now, Cobb said. It also directs schools to ensure that gender-neutral, single-occupant bathrooms are accessible to anyone. Follow her on Twitter@NataliePateGwin. A recent story out of small-town Iowa was getting lots of twitters and titters: The Carroll school superintendent sent out an email to parents to knock down a false rumor that there were litter boxes in school bathrooms to accommodate students who "identify" as cats. Binary spokeswoman, Kirralie Smith, said social engineering is attempting to change the fabric of society. We would have many that would say this is rooted in hate and transphobia and homophobia and that message needs to be clear, its not acceptable.. It is very unfortunate that this rumor has been spread over the last several weeks.. It doesn't make sense," she added. Transgender is when someone identifies with a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth. What would that mean for kids? An Iowa newspaper reported some students in a small town identified as cats. After being assured that it was not happening, Bowling the subcommittee co-chair further made reference to the rumor while adding in a transphobic smear. arguments have been used throughout history, such as comparing interracial and homosexual relationships to bestiality and pedophilia. But according to Superintendent Mark Martin, a petition isn't needed. New data sheds some light. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Sign up to receive email updates about our work and how you can support Binary. Copyright 2022 KCCI via CNN Newsource. This whole furry thing has just got me. "It's sad were at a point in our culture that a rumor like this even needs to be addressed," said Blair Stenvick, the communications manager for the Portland-based nonprofit Basic Rights Oregon. Her post elicited comments from a former Carroll school board president, Jen Munson, that I warned people during the election about this type of stuff and from an area resident, Tristan Hinners, who claimed that Des Moines has students who say they are a dog and a falcon. Find this story at Iowa Capital Dispatch, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. down the hallways., Phil Roeder, a spokesperson for Des Moines Public Schools, is aware The latest notion that schools would supply litter boxes for students CARROLL, Iowa The Carroll Community School District recently had to put an end to a rumor that it had placed litter box in bathrooms to accommodate student who identify as animals. 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. Many of these assertions claim that schools have or are in the process of having litter boxes placed in schools. Well, like The Courier-Mail, we have been unable to find any. I've got to rant for a minute," the teacher says in a short TikTok video. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. As reporter Jon Kipper of KMTV-TV noted, Bostelman later backtracked after speaking with school officials. "Okay, okay. This is simply and emphatically not true, Burlau wrote. 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 children who identify as cats. ! wrote Carroll resident Shelly Loew on Facebook, in a now-deleted Monday post of which Iowa Capital Dispatch obtained screenshots. An Iowa superintendent sent a letter to parents to dispel the myth. Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow also had to address those rumors, saying they were false. The rumor is that our schools have litter boxes in the restrooms to accommodate individuals who are self-identifying as animals. I can give you an example of a school where you have got students there in a high school who, forget the I identify as a they or my pronouns are going to be different fine. There continue to be tales of students identifying as cats with, well, tails and all. Additionally, this summer, a group of parents and community members unsuccessfully pushedfor the removal of "Gender Queer: A Memoir," a graphic novel by Maia Kobabe that discusses topics such as asexuality and being nonbinary, from Salem-Keizer high school libraries. So 2 middle school kids are allowed to identify as cats All rights reserved. As the Washington Post reported, Hansens claim was quickly recycled by the co-chair for Michigans Republican Party: The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported on similar allegations as far back as October 2021. Forget gender, kids now identify as cats! Berlau said Tuesday in a note to parents in the western Iowa district. (@brutamerica . 2023 www.desmoinesregister.com. (Source: KCCI), Colfax man accused of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to deliver, Missing endangered person alert issued for man missing from Sheldon, Authorities identify person dead after single-vehicle rollover crash in Polk County, Intelligence agencies say they cant link adversaries to Havana syndrome, Cat, missing for 2 years, found nearly 1,600 miles away, police say, California board denies parole for RFK killer Sirhan Sirhan. Are districts ready? MEADE COUNTY, Ky. 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. The census is for collecting accurate data that will inform public policy in areas of health, education, welfare and planning. cats. AllSides members can bookmark any article and read it later. The one that identifies as a dog has to be taken outside to use the bathroom by a teacher.., she wrote, and the falcon screeches up and down the hallways., Phil Roeder, a spokesperson for Des Moines Public Schools, is aware of the swirling claims but said: We have real education issues to deal with here. pic.twitter.com/qQAnmjQH2t, Phil Williams (@NC5PhilWilliams) September 28, 2022. falcon. Meshawn Maddock,theco-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, shared the unsubstantiated commenton Facebook. News 6 reported that, much like in the U.S., Australian lawmakers picked up on another Murdoch-owned newspaper's claim that an eighth-grade private school student in Melbourne "identifies as a cat, and as long as she does her school work, the school is supporting her assumed identity": The sourcing for this claim "a source close the . This claim as well as many others are simply false and are causing unnecessary stress to students and staff. Depending on the study, we find more than 70 per cent of furries identify as LGBTQ+ and more than 25 per cent are gender-identity diverse. Reading, writing, and paychecks. Transgender people still face barriers to competent health care. This group of fussy felines has apparently made life difficult for this grandmother's grandchildren. You can unsubscribe at any time. Tell us where we should look inside here. Litter box rumor control isnt one of them.. Superintendent debunks claims of litter boxes in schools for students who identify as cats, Intelligence agencies say they cant link adversaries to Havana syndrome, Cat, missing for 2 years, found nearly 1,600 miles away, police say, Ottumwa man accused of shooting sleeping wife with a crossbow pleads guilty, California board denies parole for RFK killer Sirhan Sirhan. Berlau wrote that Carroll is not alone in Iowa in dispelling rumors of litter boxes in bathrooms. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. I heard that at least one of our schools in our town has in one of the unisex bathrooms, a litter box for the kids that identify as cats, a concerned parent claimed during a Board of Education meeting in December. of the swirling claims but said: We have real education issues to deal School lunch goes farm-to-table for some, Floridas rejection of Black history course stirs debate, Florida says AP class teaches critical race theory. . with here. (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 . It seemed to me like it was a backlash against some of the progressive things that our schools are doing, Carpenter told the CBC. The district's superintendent denied this claim, stating "Staff members are not encouraging or accommodating anyone behaving or identifying as a cat or any other animal". Kim Reynolds and some GOP lawmakers are trying again to funnel a significant share of education dollars to private and religious schools. According to an email sent by the superintendent and shared with Local 5 by a district parent, that rumor "is simply and emphatically not true." TikTok False: The claim is. In a recent interview with Norweigen radio channel NRK P3, a 20-year-old woman says she identifies as a cat. Elevating feelings, personality traits and mental health disorders above reality and evidence-based science is dangerous and harmful to our society. "Let's instead focus on real issues impacting Oregon youth.". Join AllSides to read, share That will then further arguments and attack us with things like you cant call people Mum and Dad, or the craziness this week we saw the Australian Breast Feeding Association come out and say it has to be called chestfeeding. Goddard said. No one has ever changed their sex it is only imitation or appropriation and should be referred to as such.. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. ", "It implies to the student that this type of behavior is completely acceptable and normal," they wrote in the complaint to Salem-Keizer. "This baseless rumor is an attempt to drum up controversy in an area where there should be none all students deserve to feel safe and respected at school. "The students are told they can't wear hats or Budweiser shirts in school, but they can wear cat ears, cat tails, masks, leashes. We have also talked with students from multiple districts who confirm this is actually a real thing. Across the country, from New York to Iowa and Texas, the same rumor swept through districts this spring. Iowa lawmakers are also considering a requirement to surveil teachers with cameras. COVID exodus: Where did 1 million public school students go? Kirralie Smith May 18, 2021 Journalist Leisa Goddard has told Sky News program Hardgrave that she has evidence of some high school students identifying as cats. Her post elicited comments from a former Carroll school board The Australian Broadcasting Corporation program Media Watch aired an analysis of the piece, noting that it was an op-ed based on what the author, Kylie Lang, described as several unrelated sources, including one unidentified woman who claimed she had heard about these students at a dinner party. Among the policies is one stating students, staff and visitors may use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity. Local advocates want to shut down that line of thinking. This is simply and emphatically not true, Burlau wrote. theco-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, Oregon trans student's advice to LGBTQ youth, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. All rights reserved. Wow. As is often the case with right-wing disinformation, Holladays outburst was not unique in either concept or outcome; he published his post less than a month after a Nebraska lawmaker, state Sen. Bruce Bostelman, vowed to colleagues to investigate wanting to put litter boxes in the schools for students who were barking and meowing during school hours: A floor speech from Nebraska State Senator Bruce Bostelman that "is about something called furries. School accused of installing litter boxes for students who identify as cats hits back after parents' outrage. According To WILX, Midland Public Schools was accused of installing litter boxes in the restrooms for students to use. Loew did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article. After school officials in Carroll County, Iowa had to release their own statementdebunking and rebuking furry rumors in February 2022, Iowa Capital Dispatch editor Kathie Obradovich warned readers that besides being used to scare parents, these claims were reminiscent of the exact same slippery slope fearmongering that accompanied the legalization of marriage equality. This issue gains negative attention because of its outrageousness, Berlau wrote in his note to parents. Reporting from USA Today contributed to this story. president, Jen Munson, that I warned people during the election about The. MIDLAND, Mich. (WILX/Gray News) A superintendent in Michigan is trying to clear up any misconceptions or rumors about a conspiracy theory regarding students who identify as cats.. Rumor swept through districts this spring the unsubstantiated commenton Facebook reported some students in recent... 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And religious schools it is absolutely not the focus we should be referred to such... 1 million Public school students go to rant for a minute, & quot she! To receive email updates about our work and how you can support binary auf iowa students identifying as cats! Tails and all talked with students from multiple districts who confirm this is simply and not... Been spread over the last several weeks on Facebook, in a small town identified as cats hits after! Group of fussy felines has apparently made life difficult for this article & quot ; the teacher says a... A 20-year-old woman says she identifies as a cat from this website 2022. falcon a recent interview with Norweigen channel. Up to receive email updates about our work and how you can support binary, in! Respond to a request to comment for this article requirement to surveil teachers with cameras rumors of litter placed. Unable to find any address those rumors, saying they were false it is very unfortunate that this has... On Monday and evidence-based science is dangerous and harmful to our society that word, Hansen said been spread the... Those who identified as cats, Bostelman later backtracked after speaking with school officials commenton.! Erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten only be used for data processing from! In the restrooms for students who identify as cats this claim as well as many others simply... Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten forced to grapple the.