Utah’s Nebo School District has denied claims that students were dressing up as animals and “biting” one another after students staged a protest on Wednesday.
In a statement to Fox News, the district said the claims—that some students are dressing up in full-body animal costumes and acting like animals—were “misinformation that had been circulated online.”
“We want to assure you that rumors circulating online about student behavior are completely untrue,” the district said. “These are 11 and 12-year-old students, and while sometimes these children may come to school with a headband that has ears, sometimes with giant bows, and sometimes dressed as their favorite athlete, there have been no students attending school wearing masks, animal costumes, or acting like animals.”
It added that rumors of “biting, licking, costumes, or animal behavior” were “unfounded and are not occurring in our schools.”
“We promptly address distractions to learning as well as dress code violations to maintain a positive learning environment for everyone ... We encourage open communication. If parents or patrons have concerns, we encourage them to please reach out to the school administration or myself. Our top priority is a safe and supportive environment for both students and parents,” the district concluded.
Demonstrators referred to the students as “furries” and claimed they had, barked, scratched, and even bitten other students at schools, noting they were between 10 and 13 years old.
Many “furries” take on an alternate persona and interact with others in the community who like to dress in animal costumes via roleplaying and art, according to Safer Schools.
The video footage shared online shows some of the protesting children and parents holding up signs that read “Compelled speech is not free speech,” and “Stop brainwashing us!”
Others claimed they had raised complaints about the issue with school officials but that their concerns had been ignored.
Petition Calls for Action
Meanwhile, a petition began circulating online titled “Students for Humans at School, not animals aka furries.” It urges Mt. Nebo Middle School to “start enforcing section. 3.1.8 of the district policies dress code.”That section prohibits “jewelry, accessories, tattoos, hair, facial hair, and other elements of a student’s appearance that draw undo attention, distract, disrupt, or otherwise interfere with the learning atmosphere at school or at school activities and events, or that create a health, safety or welfare issues are prohibited,” according to the petition.
The petition had garnered over 2,140 signatures as of Friday morning.
In addition to denying the claims that students have been wearing full animal costumes at schools, the school district also emailed parents regarding the issue, according to Fox News.
“We expect ALL students to be respectful towards each other while we are here at school. We hope you will treat others how you would like to be treated. Outstanding behavior might demonstrate curiosity, understanding, patience, and tolerance,” the district said in the email to parents, according to the publication.
“One of our goals is to ensure that you are able to come to school, each day to learn the academic curriculum and appropriate citizenship. As responsible citizens, we hope you will look out for each other, take care of each other, and treat each other with kindness,” the district added.
The Epoch Times has contacted Utah’s Nebo School District for further comment.
