Why are Tennessee politicians saying there are 'furries' in school classrooms? | Opinion

We can all agree that social media is inherently full of disinformation meant to stir up emotions and divide communities.

There are some posts that we should just scroll past because comments and emojis only serve to feed the algorithm and draw more viewers into the feed.

One recent example is the headline news that local Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, used her taxpayer-paid time during a legislative hearing to ask the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission about “furries.”

“Do charter schools allow the furries to come as a furry into class, which is children identifying as cats or dogs?" Littleton asked the commission's chair Tom Griscom and executive director Tess Stoval.

“No, ma’am,” Stoval replied.

“We're hearing that's a problem across the state now, so — and I think it's a big problem,” Littleton replied.

This embarrassing comment went viral and the public responded with disgust towards our legislator for mocking public school administrators, support staff and teachers while undermining confidence in our public education system.

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How does a rumor take a life of its own?

For readers unknowledgeable about the subculture of furries, furries are enthusiasts for animal characters with human characteristics and dress up in costume as such a character.

One such news article made its way into a local Cheatham County Facebook Group, named Cheatham County Politico. This group has a number of members from across the county including local officials, candidates and activists.

Almost immediately, public figures began to disparage the notion that our local education system – with its strictly enforced dress code policy – allows for this expression in the classroom, a place held sacred from learning environment distractions.

Gerald C Greer, a local Council Member posted, “This is ridiculous. Seems to be a joke that somehow has been taken seriously but without any factual basis.”

Jack Stafford, an elected constable stated, “It’s saddening that we are at the point something like this is believable.”

However, not all elected officials spoke up against Representative Littleton’s comments. Commissioner Diana Pike-Lovell (D5) responded to several concerned comments stating,

“...We have 'furries' at Harpeth High and I bet other local high schools."

“... I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm simply stating that there are students at Harpeth (most definitely) who are ‘furries.’ I've seen them and the costumes are elaborate and quite frankly impressive. There has been some rumor about the litter boxes. I don't know any more than that. I think it's ridiculous, but it is a factual thing.”

Leaders should be shielding children from cyberbullying

Dr. Cathy Beck, Cheatham County Director of Schools, responded to email concerns immediately and stated, “...There is no truth to this. Sadly this rumor has perpetuated across the state as if it is happening everywhere. It is not.”

Social media has given rise to a new form of bullying, called cyberbullying. Victims of cyberbullying can experience wide-ranging effects, including mental health issues, poor academic performance, a desire to drop out of school, and even suicidal ideation. It can also result in long-lasting emotional effects, even if the bullying has stopped.

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These revelations by local Cheatham County Commissioner Diana Pike-Lovell provoke the question whether the disinformation provided to Representative Littleton (via their much promoted friendship) generated this stir across Tennessee.

Our elected officials are tasked with protecting our citizens including children, who are most vulnerable to the temptation of social media and its adverse effects on their mental health. This includes refraining from outing the extracurricular hobbies of our youth online and potentially exposing them to cyberbullying.

Our call to action as engaged participants in online culture is to seek out the facts, be conscientious of the impact of our words and quiet disinformation by withholding commentary. Even when elected leadership fails us, we still have the power to shape a better future for our families and community.

Krystle James is a local resident and business owner in Cheatham County.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why are Tennessee politicians saying there are 'furries' in school?