Schools that permit pupils establish as animals ‘put them in danger’
Schools which allow children to identity as animals are putting them at risk from paedophiles and failing to prepare them for adulthood, parents have warned.
The UFTScotland group, which represents parents, said it was ‘completely insane’ for teachers and council education officials to let pupils self-identify as animals.
The Mail yesterday revealed that a pupil at a Scottish secondary school is being allowed to identify as a wolf – and is being supported using SNP government guidance.
UFTScotland said some people who dress up as animals in online videos are taking part in adult sexual fetishes – and paedophiles could use this practice to start targeting animal-identifying youngsters.
These are known as therians – a subset of otherkins, who identify as partially or entirely non-human – while ‘furries’ see their ‘animal persona’ as a character.
A British schoolboy suffers from ‘species dysphoria’ and identifies as a wolf
Jo Bisset (pictured) is the organiser of UFTScotland
UFTScotland organiser Jo Bisset said: ‘There is a real danger that paedophiles could target children on the basis that animals are cute and funny. These children are clearly distressed but it is wrong for councils to ‘support’ them.’
She added: ‘What are these children going to do when they’re adults in the workplace? They can’t identify as animals when they’re working in an office.’
On its website, child protection group INEQE Safeguarding states that the ‘ability to mask and hide your personal identity as a ‘furry’ may be misused by someone with a harmful sexual interest in children’.
Growing numbers of youngsters are taking on animal personas including dragons, birds, snakes, sharks – and even dinosaurs.
However, clinical neuropsychologist Dr Tommy MacKay said: ‘There is no such condition as ‘species dysphoria’.’
The Mail has decided not to disclose the council concerned in order to protect the identity of the child identifying as a wolf.
The UFTScotland group, which represents parents, said it was ‘completely insane’ for teachers and council education officials to let pupils self-identify as animals (Stock Image)
The council said: ‘We follow GIRFEC’ [Getting It Right for Every Child – Scottish Government guidance] and added that there was ‘no alternative or extra space or area required [for the pupil involved]’.
The Scottish Government declined to comment.
