School Task - Conversion To Islam

[agchristie]

Is this wise?

http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/02/20/school-sets-children-task-of-writing-letter-explaining-their-conversion-to-islam/

[vetuste_ennemi]

I suppose you think Islam is a religion of peace, Mamya? Do you?

[Mamyalynne]

That is a good question DB, one hopes that they have been given sufficient to produce a piece of the length and depth required otherwise as you point out it may be a futile attempt.


The curriculum overall is so very crowded now in many areas.

[Mamyalynne]

Not particularly no I don't, there is a hell of a lot of angst and grief caused by many religious zealots.

[agchristie]

Divebuddy > how are they supposed to produce a good, well argued piece of creative writing.

Easy, expose themselves to the internet. Can't go wrong can they?....

[Mamyalynne]

Apologies for misunderstanding you.

[agchristie]

DB > They must be able to argue what's wrong with religion A and why Islam is better.

Exactly. More of an essay required rather than a letter. I would imagine the task is insuperable even for a religious scholar never mind a young teenager...

[sherrardk]

I have five kids in the state sector, three go to a C of E school. The ones at primary bring home 'things' made from clay for different religions, pots with candles in, etc. Three of them have been to a Sheik temple, Coventry Cathedral and the ones at primary say a prayer at assembly, sometimes led by the vicar & they go up the church to to do stuff. Are they religious, no. Do they know a tiny bit about some religions, yes they do. Are they going to become religious bigots or converts to Islam because of this tiny exposure to other cultures - I highly doubt it.

[Svejk]

///Three of them have been to a Sheik temple,///

Tent, surely?

[naomi24]

^ :o)

[naomi24]

Divebuddy, good posts.

[Mamyalynne]

Divebuddy , I missed that question as I had logged off.

I can't speak for any apologists , but for my self I know it wouldn't happen as you describe it and of course that is an imbalance that doesn't sit easily with anyone least of all me.

[jomifl]

/If you read the curriculum posted above, all Religions are touched upon/

All ? really! I doubt even the current European religions are 'touched upon'

[Mamyalynne]

You're absolutely right 'All' is the wrong word and impossible given the constraints of the short time they have to learn.

Stupid choice of wording by me.

[pixie374]

Apologists for education... ok:-)

[vetuste_ennemi]

"Do any of the apologists truly believe that there is a cat in hell's chance of any school sending a Muslim pupil home with a letter (essay, call it what you will) explaining why he has denounced his faith in favour of Christianity?".

Let me go further, Divebuddy, and suggest what I think would happen if any school did such a thing.

Firstly, there would be be protests from dozens of Muslim parents and "community leaders". Their objections would probably include phrases such as "attacks on our cultural values" and "threats to social cohesion"..
Secondly the head would immediately apologise and reaffirm the school's commitment to diversity and its respect for all cultural traditions.
Thirdly the teacher responsible would be disciplined and forced to make penitent remarks.
Fourthly, if a thread were started about this on AB everybody who has defended the Guernsey school on this thread would take the opposite position on that one.

But (for Divebuddy's burning cat reasons) my speculations are unlikely to ever be put to proof.

A footnote: proselytisation by any religion except Islam is forbidden under the Sharia, which is why most it is banned at least de facto in most Muslim majority countries.

[Mamyalynne]

I'm not sure my stance is particularly a defence of this school's approach, rather the knowledge that as part of an educational year I as a parent could guide my child through this exercise with little discomfort.


I wholeheartedly agree that it should run smoothly the other way too , but as you state if wouldn't and won't.