ABC4.com: Students walk out of Utah middle school to protest 'furries'
ABC4.com: Students walk out of Utah middle school to protest 'furries'
“A lot of the information that’s been put out there is completely incorrect and inaccurate,” Nebo School District Public Information Officer Seth Sorensen told ABC4.com.
While Sorensen said there have been issues with harassment or students making others feel uncomfortable or unsafe, he said most of the claims online are false.
“The administration at the school addressed that with the entire student body and they sent out a couple of emails,” Sorensen said. “Some of those emails were misinterpreted, and parents took to online formats to voice some of their concerns and questions.”
Sorensen said students are not dressing up as cats and dogs, and because there is a dress code in place, he doesn’t think videos that have been shared online are from Nebo schools. Sorensen emphasized that the main goals of the district are open communication and student safety.
“Today, we had some students and parents choose to exercise their right to assemble, and do a little protest for what they perceived was something that was happening in the school,” Sorensen said. “It actually is not something that’s been occurring.”
He said the reports of students dressing as animals are “a little bit inaccurate,” saying students wearing headbands with ears are similar to students wearing bows and sports jerseys. Sorensen said dressing up is “just what students of this age do.”
“Interestingly enough, they really didn’t address us with anything they wanted changed,” Sorensen said of the protesters.
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The students said there are attacks from the furries every day, but were unsure of how many furries there actually are at the school, shouting out numbers ranging from five to 100 students who identify as such.
The school’s “furry” population is accused of biting, scratching, spraying air freshener on, barking at and chasing other students.
My daughter was severely bullied at her middle school because they decided she was a furry. They also made those accusations about her- biting and barking and so on. Why? Because she likes punk and likes to wear leather chokers and one day a teacher called it her dog collar.
We had to take her out of the school because of this shit. Not surprised since Indiana, where we were, is a Midwestern Utah.
Damn, I'm really sorry to hear that.
Thanks. It actually worked out for the best because she has a lot more self confidence and now that she's in online school she's getting the best grades of her life. We've had to go down to a single income so I can stay home with her and keep her on track, but it's been worth it to see what a change it's made.
It sounds like she's lucky to have you. We can all learn from trauma as long as you have the right people around you.
Thank you. I just wish we had taken this opportunity sooner.
We've had to go down to a single income
It's great that you were able to give up your job to take care of your daughter, and that she's doing well now. But the fact that a bunch of asshole kids bullying her also had the knock-on effect of likely hurting your family's long-term finances is annoying to hear.
Obviously the horrible shit they put your poor daughter through is the most important thing here. But this shows there are often other negative ripple effects impacting the whole family. Not to mention that most families don't even have the option to give up an income source.
And all because some scummy kids decide it's funny to make someone else's life so miserable.
I agree completely... but at least we had the option! I was bullied nearly as much as her when I was a kid and there was no alternative.
Don't forget to properly socialize her with peers. I have friends who were formally homeschooled and it fucked them up socially for a while. Game clubs might help.
She has a teen meetup she goes to every week.
Same... having to live in Indy is already bad enough.
In high school I hung out with all the punks and skaters. A lot of them would wear the studded jackets with patches and stuff. I didn't usually dress the part but I love punk music and I love the skate culture so I felt like I fit in there. We didn't care what anyone else thought or said to us. Social media and cell phones also weren't really a thing. Bullying is different now because of that and it's a real problem in many places. I'm sorry you had to take your daughter out of that school. I hope she knows there are people like her, who like the same kinds of music or the same kinds of clothes and that she's not a freak or a weirdo. School can be tough. Even as an adult people make jokes sometimes about the music I listen too, but you know what? I still don't care! lol
Thanks. There are people like her in some ways, but she's a unique person, which is what I love about her. She knows that kids into both the Dead Kennedys and Raggedy Ann doll collecting are not "normal" but she's fine with not being "normal." Really, I was the same way. I hung out with all the punks and skaters like you, but I was (and still am) more interested in 1930s and 1940s music. And her mom is similarly eccentric. So we knew she would always be a "weirdo." We've taught her that she should be proud of who she is and that trying to fit in with the "normal" kids isn't worth it.
I always think of the words from Millencolin's song No Cigar.
Cause I don't care where I belong no more
What we share or not I will ignore
And I won't waste my time fitting in
'Cause I don't think contrast is a sin