Scottish school lets student identify as 'wolf' in first case
In a first-of-its-kind case in Scotland, a school pupil has been allowed to identify as a wolf. The student is believed to be suffering from "species dysphoria," a condition where an individual feels they belong to the wrong species. This decision has been confirmed by official documents and is supported by the teachers at the school, the Daily Mail reported.
Student's identification as 'wolf' sparks debate
The unidentified school council has stated that the student is part of a group known as "furries" and identifies with an "animal persona." This species dysphoria is the latest in a series of dysphorias in which pupils are choosing to identify with creatures such as dragons, foxes, birds, and snakes. Unamused, one expert argued that there is no such condition as species dysphoria and suggested that the student needs to "snap out of it."
Rising trend of animal identification among students
Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Tommy MacKay commented on this phenomenon, stating "It's not surprising that we are seeing this in an age when many people want to identify as something other than they are." "Now we have a council that appears to accept at face value that a child identifies as a wolf, rather than being told to snap out of it and get to grips with themselves, which would be the common-sense approach."
Local authority's stance on student's animal identification
The local authority has clarified that it adheres to the GIRFEC (Getting It Right for Every Child) Scottish Government guidance in handling such cases. This wellbeing framework aims to ensure that children's voices are heard and assists them in overcoming inequalities. The case follows an incident last year, when a school had to deny rumors of students identifying as cats after reports surfaced that they were "pooing on the floor."
