and go to school? Factual reporting is essential. Staff members are not encouraging or accommodating anyone behaving Loew did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article. The same story has popped up at a few school districts across the country, starting with Midland Public Schools in Michigan in December after a parent brought up concerns about litter boxes in restrooms at a school board meeting. The proposal triggered an outcry from conservative commenters who argued that the broader gender descriptors would make the information collected by the ABS less accurate, and in turn lead to poorer decision making by government. CARROLL, Iowa There are no litter boxes in the restrooms of the Carroll Community Its absurd, and its mean-spirited, and it is absolutely not the focus we should be having right now, Cobb said. Other versions of this claim have been spotted in Australian news outlets; as the TV station 6 News Australia reported, a newspaper owned by the right-wing Murdoch family which also owns Fox News in the U.S. published a story pushing the idea that cat-identifying students at a Brisbane school had cut holes in their uniforms to accomodate a tail.. District officials confirmed to the Statesman Journal that the claims are categorically false. "The Oregon Department of Education has had trans-inclusive policies in place for years now, and no harm has come to cisgender or transgender students as a result of those policies," Stenvick said. I've got to rant for a minute," the teacher says in a short TikTok video. 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. Carroll School District Superintendent Casey Burlau said it got so bad that he had to send a letter to students and parents on Monday. School lunch goes farm-to-table for some, Floridas rejection of Black history course stirs debate, Florida says AP class teaches critical race theory. 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 restrooms of Sprague High School. Loew did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article. A woman who was working as a substitute teacher posted a video to social media alleging she was fired by school officials for not "identifying with" a student who "identifies as a cat" after she refused to meow back at the child in class. Litter box rumor control isnt one of them.. 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. with here. The Nebraska Examiner further reported that both Bostelman and another state senator, Steve Halloran, had been fed rumors about student furries, prompting a quick debunking from educators: This is ridiculous, said Dr. Josh Fields, the superintendent of the Seward Public Schools. "Sprague High School, or any Salem-Keizer school,do nothave litter boxes for use as restroom facilities," Emily Hicks, a spokeswoman for the district, said. The one that identifies as a dog has to be taken outside to use the In a recent interview with Norweigen radio channel NRK P3, a 20-year-old woman says she identifies as a cat. Some who have believed the false rumors continue to cite them as an example of school districts going too far with so-called identity politics, drawing a connection between the litter box claims to schools allowing transgender students to use the restroom of their choice. "Restroom facilities are available at all district facilities in compliance with state law," she added. 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 . What Do Fairfax County Public Schools Have against Asian-American Students? This group of fussy felines has apparently made life difficult for this grandmother's grandchildren. Are districts ready? And what about those cat-identifying students in Brisbane? 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. They identify as cats. Goddard claimed. How an urban myth about litter boxes in schools became a GOP talking point. I've got to rant for a minute," the teacher says ina short TikTok video. Send comments, questions and tips to her atnpate@statesmanjournal.comor 503-399-6745. screenshots. COVID exodus: Where did 1 million public school students go? (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 restrooms. Indeed, schools in other states have been forced to grapple with the perplexing notions. 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. (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 restrooms. arguments have been used throughout history, such as comparing interracial and homosexual relationships to bestiality and pedophilia. No one has ever changed their sex it is only imitation or appropriation and should be referred to as such.. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The woman, who goes only by Nano, says she's been a cat her entire life. The. A grandmother of a student reported that a crew of kids dressed as cats has been hissing and scratching at others. pic.twitter.com/qQAnmjQH2t, Phil Williams (@NC5PhilWilliams) September 28, 2022. 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 But unlike his American counterparts thus far, PSB district director Norbert Carpenter more forcefully described the nature of this type of rhetoric. A TikTok user in a video that has gone viral claimed falsely that she was fired from a school after failing to respect a student's decision to identify as a cat. 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. 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.. 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. Reading, writing, and paychecks. The Public Schools Branch supports all students and their personal expressions, however, such conjecture is not helpful and contravenes our Safe and Caring Learning Environment Policy. Opponents said they believed the main purpose of the book was "to promote various agendas" related to the LGBTQ community in an attempt to "make it more acceptable in the mainstream. (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 restrooms. Nonbinary is when someone does not identify as either male or female. Similar "if we allow this, what's next?" An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. pic.twitter.com/fNxye7LPBL Left of Center MI (@leftofcentermi) January 20, 2022 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. bathroom by a teacher.., she wrote, and the falcon screeches up and The ABS had made a recommendation that a greater number of gender descriptors to be provided in the next census. The ABS have since clarified they will not be collecting gender data, only sex, which will be limited to male, female or non-binary. cats. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. (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. This claim as well as many others are simply false and are causing unnecessary stress to students and staff. 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. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: kobradovich@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Its an ugly rumor, said Shawn Scott, the superintendent Adams Central, which issued a statement on Feb. 18 shooting down the rumor. that some schools are installing them for children who identify as "It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you.". Berlau wrote that Carroll is not alone in Iowa in dispelling rumors of litter boxes in bathrooms. Mike DeWine suffered injury while in East Palestine, 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, Closed Captioning/Audio Description Problems. So 2 middle school kids are allowed to identify as cats A local publication, The Tennessee Holler, also reported on the post (which is no longer visible on Holladays Facebook page), adding that commenters debunked his allegation: UPDATE: Doc Holladay, the Williamson County School Board @WCSedu candidate who called for a librarians arrest, perpetuates the LIE that students are given litter boxes and identifying as cats, teachers punished for not meowing to them, (Commenters fact-checked him) pic.twitter.com/EqI1TECfqR, The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) April 12, 2022. "The students are told they can't wear hats or Budweiser shirts in school, but they can wear cat ears, cat tails, masks, leashes. According to the U.S. Trans Survey, conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality, a third of trans people have faced discrimination from a health care provider. Local advocates want to shut down that line of thinking. Not everyone supported the policy changes, with a group protesting them outside district offices in April. I heard that at least one of our schools in our town has a, in one of the unisex bathrooms, a litter box for the kids that identify as cats. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. Luke Kenton; Published: 21:25, 22 Jan 2022; Updated: 21:38, 22 Jan 2022; The rumor is that our schools have litter boxes in the restrooms to accommodate individuals who are self-identifying as animals. Iowa State Education Association Director Mary Jane Cobb said the litter box rumors are a right-wing attempt to mock LGBTQ+ restroom equality. New data sheds some light. or identifying as a cat or any other animal, Superintendent Casey Bowling claimed that schools are not fully disclosing but they are allowing litter boxes for students supposedly identifying as cats. To Increase Equity, School Districts Eliminate Honors Classes. Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow also had to address those rumors, saying they were false. It also directs schools to ensure that gender-neutral, single-occupant bathrooms are accessible to anyone. "Okay, okay. Copyright 2022 KCCI via CNN Newsource. 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. Copyright 2022 KCCI via CNN Newsource. It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you.. Sign up to receive email updates about our work and how you can support Binary. 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