Dear Mum, I'm going to be a Muslim

superbeets · Feb 23, 2016

[h=1]Dear Mum, I'm going to be a Muslim: Anger over pupils' RE project that asked them to write a letter to their parents explaining why they were converting to Islam[/h]

Pupils were asked to consider what it would be like to become a Muslim
The 12 and 13-year-olds had to write a letter saying they had converted
The Religious Education homework assignment was met with outrage
Many parents blasted the project, saying 'children are too impressionable'

By TAMMY HUGHES FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 03:20, 23 February 2016 | UPDATED: 03:22, 23 February 2016

It was meant to be a creative writing exercise as part of a Religious Education lesson.
But when pupils were asked to write a letter to their parents saying they had converted to Islam, it was met with outrage.
The 12 and 13-year-olds at Beaucamps High School in Guernsey were asked to consider what it would be like to become a Muslim and to write a letter to their loved ones explaining their decision.

.

superbeets · Feb 23, 2016

+2

Controversial: The 12 and 13-year-olds at Beaucamps High School in Guernsey, pictured, were asked to consider what it would be like to become a Muslim and to write a letter to their parents explaining their decision

But many parents blasted the homework, saying it was dangerous when so many youngsters were fleeing Britain to wage jihad in Syria.
One said: ‘The idiot who thought this one up is not fit to be at the school or in education.’
Muslims make up less than one per cent of the population on Guernsey and the island recently refused to accept any Syrian refugees.

.

superbeets · Feb 23, 2016

Gemma Gough said she and her husband Will had complained to Guernsey’s education department, and added that their son Thomas would not complete the work.
Writing on Facebook, she said: ‘Sorry, but both Will and I feel very strongly – as do many, many other parents – that this is not acceptable. Kids are too impressionable, and imagine if these letters got in the wrong hands in years to come.’
Guernsey’s education department said: ‘It is important that our students are able to learn about, understand, investigate and question all that is around them. As with all subjects, homework will be set to cover all areas of the curriculum.’

+2

Assignment: An outline of the homework handed out to a Religious Education class at the school

The homework drew a negative response from many people on the local Guernsey Press website.
One person wrote: ‘Teach pupils about religion by all means but be very careful when you ask them to be a Muslim.
‘In this day and age when easily led youngsters are being radicalised, it is a dangerous road to be taking.

Backlash: Parents and members of community have slammed the homework assignment online

‘The amount of youngsters heading to Syria without their parents knowing must ring warning bells about how easily led they can be.’
Another wrote: ‘It’s a very emotive topic and really not a particularly clever move by the school.’
The homework came with a note: ‘Please note this is a piece of creative writing and completely fictional.’
Guernsey’s chief minister Jonathan Le Tocq recently blamed ‘Islamophobia and negativity’ on the island for his decision not to welcome Syrian refugees.

.

superbeets · Feb 23, 2016

Will this school be giving the Muslimchildren the assignment of writing to their parents to say that they would be converting to Christianity? Something tells me not ...

Les Beaucamps High School
Castel
Guernsey
GY5 7DS

Tel: 01481 756040
Email: office@lesbeaucampshigh.sch.gg

superbeets · Feb 23, 2016

locals have been outraged andhave taken to the comments section of The Guernsey Press to express their horror at the idea. One concerned resident wrote: “Teach pupils about religion by all means but be very careful when you ask then [sic] to be a Muslim, in this day and age when easily led youngsters are being radicalised it is a dangerous road to be taking.
“The idiot who thought this one up is not fit to be at the school or in education. The amount of youngsters heading to Syria without their parents knowing must ring warning bells about how easily led they can be.”
Another wrote: “I’m sure you would have read of young adults that have secretly travelled to join the thuggish butchers that are known as I.S. all I am saying is be wary of what you are teaching them as some will not know the motive behind the lesson.”
One commenter suggested that if his child had been assigned the homework: “I would have assisted my child in writing the homework based on joining the IS, and finishing with something like, ‘Having been asked by my teacher to look into turning into a Muslim found the idea most attractive and will be joining IS at the earliest opportunity’. “
They added, for clarity, “I am not Islamaphobic in any way I just find some teaching methods far too left wing for my liking.”