Sandboxes for students Supposed trend shocks senator
03/30/2022 04:41
A Republican senator from the US state of Nebraska is concerned about conditions in schools. It is said that cat litter boxes are being installed there now for students who appear in animal costumes, he complains in Parliament. A few hours later he corrects his absurd mistake.
A Republican politician in the US has made fun of himself with his public outcry over alleged sandboxes for schoolchildren. Nebraska Senator Bruce Bostelman said Monday at a debate on school finances that he was “a little shocked” by stories of kids dressing up like cats and dogs and teachers even encouraging it by putting out litter boxes.
The trend is called “furries,” Bostelman said. “These are school-age children who dress up as animals—cats or dogs—during the school day,” she explained. “They meow and bark and interact that way with the school and the teachers. And now schools want to put litter boxes in schools for these kids to use. How hygienic should that be?”
Bostelman said he plans to raise the issue with Nebraska health officials. He even brought an anecdote about a student who allegedly wet the floor after teachers refused to provide a litter box.
The bizarre statements are documented in a video recording and have caused misunderstanding and malice on the Internet. In fact, there is a subculture for “Furries”, i.e. people who dress up as animal figures. However, these are usually adults. “Furries” are also sometimes associated with the fetish scene.
Surreal aftermath of the transgender debate
The rumor that Bostelman appears to have been duped is a surreal twist in the heated US debate over transgender students and their right to use a gender-appropriate bathroom and participate in school sports. Various versions of the story have been circulating in recent months, affecting school districts in several US states, all of which are false.
According to Bostelman’s Democratic colleague Megan Hunt, hours later he realized his mistake and took the floor again in Parliament. As Hunt wrote on Twitter, the lawmaker said he had checked with some schools and realized his information was incorrect. “He apologizes to the furries.”