Almost a third of all state schools in Denmark say they are prepared to show consideration for their pupils’ religious sensitivities, but experts question whether it is a good idea.

A survey carried out by Politiken Research shows that both urban and rural schools are prepared to consider their pupils’ religions in daily activities, but politicians and experts say schools must be careful.

“In Denmark we have a certain set of values, and state schools are a good place to learn them, so there should be no special conditions,” says Danish People’s Party Education Spokeswoman Marlene Harpsøe.

The Danish People’s Party is not alone in raising a warning flag.

“ The state schooling system is, in principle, a non-religious space,” says Social Democratic Education Spokeswoman Christine Antorini.

Minorities
Integration Consultant Esma Birdi says that there are now so many religious minorities, that it is not a good idea to give special consideration to all of them.

“If a school has ten Pentacostolists, ten Jews and fifteen Muslims, is the school to show consideration for all of them? If you do that, you risk putting people into groups,” says Birdi – herself of Turkish descent.

Headmasters: We can manage
The Headmasters Association Chairman Anders Balle says that consideration is just a sign that schools are adapting to a multicultural society. He accepts that religious considerations can get out of hand, but says that they have not done so.

“It is a balance. You can of course become so considerate that it becomes difficult to run a school – but we are able to take basic considerations into account,” says Balle.

Education Minister Bertel Haarder is not prepared to interfere in what individual schools decide to do.