How would you handle it? This happened in a school just a few miles from me. please log in to view this image A man has spoken of his concern after his stepdaughter was asked to write to her family about why she is converting to Islam for her homework. Mark McLachlan, from Houghton-le-Spring, has slammed the decision by the Kepier school to ask pupils to write a letter to their family about converting to Islam. The 43-year-old refused to let his 12-year-old stepdaughter, who he has asked not to be named, complete the task after failing to see what the letter would accomplish. ‘I know as part of the national curriculum they have to learn about all religions,’ said Mr McLachlan. ‘I just don’t see why they should ask a child to write a letter addressed to their family about converting to another religion. ‘I really just don’t see what the letter will gain. If they want children to learn about Islam, then go teach them all about it and its history. ‘What I don’t want is a school asking my stepdaughter to look into reasons for converting to another religion. Like every parent, it is our decision on how we raise them and once they are old enough to make decision, then it is there choice.’ Mr McLachlan visited the school to raise his concerns and was told that this was part of the curriculum and was shown example exam questions for Islam, Christianity and Hinduism. The homework came to light when Mr McLachlan was looking through his stepdaughter’s school planner and saw the teacher had written the task to be handed in on November 8. Mr McLachlan said: ‘When I saw this assignment in the planner, written by the teacher, you could have knocked me over with a feather. I told her she will not be completing it and she is more worried about getting detention. ‘We send our kids to school to get a good education and use what they have learnt to have a good career. ‘I have no problem with them learning about religions but I feel they should not be asking 12-year-olds writing to their parents about why they are converting. I just found the task wholly inappropriate. ‘I would like to emphasise how much respect I have for the head of year and deputy head who were very receptive to my complaint and concerns but unfortunately in this instance the national curriculum has failed miserably in my opinion.’ Mr McLachlan took a photo of the assignment and posted it online, where it has been shared hundreds of times. One person commented: ‘Would they go to a Muslim school and ask them to write a letter to their parents about converting to Catholic? ‘I doubt it! Children should not be made to write letters about converting to any religion for any reason. Another person said: ‘Isn’t part of RE to research, investigate and teach about all religions?
Saffy's thoughts... I wouldn't be happy, at all. I'm as big an atheist as you will meet, so if my child come home with a letter to me about converting to any religion, I'd pretty much do my nut. There's probably kids in that school of 3 or 4 religions so it's also pretty disrespectful to ask them kids to take home that homework.
I can remember getting similar tasks in school, where you'd be asked to write from the perspective of someone else or from circumstances you aren't in. I don't see the problem.
The assignment may mean the child asks "so can I do that?" if they're old enough then they know that already if they are at a young age it may be planting thoughts that a parent feels are inappropriate regardless of the religion. The work could be done in many different ways that would not cause concern for parents who feel strongly about their religion.
nail on the head. I remember tasks like that where you'd pretend to be a historical figure and write from their perspective to someone else to convince them. Without more context (e.g. full on indoctrination) other than a random screenshot of writing a letter i think @CBD saffy is going loco over nothing Just an exercise of trying to think from a different persons perspective and forming a basic argument in persuading someone to accept their view.
I think I know what that means, I'd hardly say I was going mental over anything. I'm just saying I wouldn't be happy with it one bit and seeing what other peoples thoughts are. I hate all religions, so my hatred for them is probably clouding my judgement, no doubt.
I’d just get them to fill it in word for word as I spoke it... “Converting to Islam is a ****ing moronic thing to do, performed by ****y *****s and spackers, As is converting to any religion, god is a homo ***** divkid, the end”.
Didn't even know RE was still a thing. What a huge waste of time that was, all we did was shout at the teacher to let us watch the Matrix every lesson
The reading of this comment wasn’t very fluid, so I expect a low grade to be given. Definite room for improvement.
Could have been worse, like Write about having a Gary glitter beard and wearing a wizard hat. Or. Write about Billy Idol and why builders hate him.
