A school in Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, is teaching students about different religions, and many residents supported the idea at first.

However, as reports have discovered, students are being asked to craft letters telling their parents about converting to Islam, something that isn’t being done with other religions.

Many parents feel that this is an attempt to convert children “against their will” or without them even fully understanding what they are doing.

If a pupil’s grade depends on disavowing the historic Christian faith or other paths, their fears may be founded in solid fact, too.

A stepfather who slammed his 12-year-old’s school for making her write a letter about ‘converting to Islam’ has been called a ‘racist bigot’ and is terrified of violent repercussions.

Mark McLachlan, 43, complained to Kepier School in Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland when he found the homework task in his stepdaughter’s planner.

He refused to let her finish the ‘letter to my family about converting to Islam’, claiming it was ‘brainwashing’ her about the religion and did not see what it would achieve.

But since posting about it on social media he says he has received a lot of abuse.

‘My wife and I are terrified of the repercussions.’ he said.

‘Any time anybody says anything negative about Islam they are torn to shreds.

‘I’ve been called a racist and a bigot, but I’m just terrified for my children and for the way this country is going.

‘In 50 years time I can see Britain becoming an Islamic state and my children and grandchildren are still going to be alive – I don’t want them wearing a niqab.’

Mr McLachlan, who has been with the 12-year-old’s mother for five years, said he was particularly outraged by the task because he thinks she is being given a ‘false representation of Islam’.

He added: ‘She was told to google ‘Why should I convert to Islam’, but if she had researched both sides and googled ‘Why shouldn’t I convert to Islam’ she wouldn’t have been able to sleep.

‘I’ve done it and the stuff that comes up is horrific.

‘My stepdaughter is coming home talking about the Prophet Muhammad and halal meat saying Islam is the religion of peace.”

‘But if she watched the news and knew about all the atrocities Islam has caused all over the world, she would know it isn’t the religion of peace at all.’

The stepfather, who also has a daughter, stressed he has ‘nothing but respect’ for the deputy head of Kepier School, who was ‘completely understanding of his concerns.

He told MailOnline the teacher has agreed to hold a meeting to review the task and address his concerns.

Nicola Cooper, the school’s principal, said: ‘At Kepier we feel it is very important to introduce our learners to all faiths and cultures and we do this throughout the academic year.

‘For example, next week we will be celebrating all faiths during National Inter Faith Week.

‘We welcomed Mr McLachlan into school earlier this week and were happy to explain to him how we explore all faiths and cultures.

Mr McLachlan replied: ‘I know as part of the national curriculum they have to learn about all religions.

‘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. “

Once Mr. McLachlan posted the assignment online, comments came in like, “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.”

Children should not be made to write letters about converting to any religion for any reason.”

To answer that obvious question, Thought Co. has written about the “sin of Shirk,” a precept of the Islamic faith that, in many cases, puts a person to death for converting to another religion.

Somehow, it is fine, however, to force the opposite to happen, at least in the eyes of U.K.’s schools and many Muslims.

What are your thoughts? Comment below.