Christmas and Easter are really not religious holidays though. Half the traditions date back to paganism/pre-christian culture and those are also the ones that are most important to scandinavian culture.

Christmas is even still called "Jul", which is also of pagan origin.

So it depends on what they mean, they shouldn't be forced to go to church for a christmas sermon, but I don't see anything wrong with having them walk around a christmas tree and sing about santa for instance.

To me, christianity has become pure culture. I really don't mind singing about jesus anymore than I mind singing about trolls or Odin. I think that's the way it should be. In a way, by going out of your way to avoid christianity, you are taking it more seriously than you're taking Norse mythology.. and if both are just superstition, why would you?

I just quickly read through the proposal (https://www.regeringen.dk/media/4937/publikation_%C3%A9t-dan...)

I do not see religion mentioned

The article is wrong then:

"or mandatory instruction in “Danish values,” including the traditions of Christmas and Easter"

Not too surprising, I think Denmark has religious freedom specified in their constitution as do Norway.

Wouldn't that be considered general culture though, considering most people in that country still celebrate those holidays?

You can not believe in that particular religion, but still it probably wouldn't hurt anyone knowing the reasons & beliefs behind those particular days.

They will not be forced to attend church or believe anything, but they will learn what a church is or the related traditions. Probably some other such as orthodox, Jewish and Islam basics.

I'm pretty sure Danish religious and cultural education is quite even handed compared to others such as say Polish.

Religious freedom is not a license for ignorance.

Remember that Denmark is already quite secular.

I live in the Netherlands and we have ways to deal with people moving into the country whose kids don't speak Dutch. In every county and/or cities, the local elementary schools pool their non-Dutch speaking children in one or several classes, focusing on Dutch for the first 1-2 years the children live here, or however long is necessary to get them up to speed.

This is also a solution and one which works also for those not born in the country but are moving in when they are older. It does put a drain on the school system though and at least here in Norway the budgets are pretty tight already. And considering we do not pool students like you it also means that the rest of the class has to wait or that you have to leave those that do not speak the language behind the curve.

I guess it still comes down to prioritisations of the politicians. A combination of training in daycare and making separate pools in the school would be good.