Jensen repeats internet hoax about ‘furries’ in schools
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CHRIS WILLIAMS
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ST. PAUL, Minnesota. Oct. 3, 2022 – The Republican candidate for governor, Dr. Scott Jensen, has repeated a bizarre internet hoax about litter boxes in schools in what appears to be an attempt to discredit school policies intended to make schools safe and welcoming for all students.
Education Minnesota President Denise Specht said Monday:
“Rather than spreading weird internet fantasies on the campaign trail, parents and educators need leaders who are focused on the real challenges facing public schools, including the staffing shortage, the mental health crisis and helping students recover from two years of disrupted learning caused by the pandemic. No matter where you live, what you look like, or which party you usually vote for, all Minnesotans deserve leaders who can tell the difference between fact and fiction. Today, Jensen failed that test.”
CNN has reported Jensen said at a campaign event last week there are, “litter boxes in some of the school districts so kids can pee in them, because they identify as a furry …”
The strange story involves furries, a subculture that sometimes involves people dressing up as animals, CNN reported. School officials around the nation have repeatedly denied the odd claim, which has appeared in Minnesota before, including in Brainerd and the floor of the Minnesota House. The bizarre rumor has spread so much that it has its own Wikipedia page. It also has multiple entries on the debunking website snopes.com.
About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.
