Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Cannot Cooperate Aisha is known as a responsible and smart student. I have known her for the last two years, but this year is the first time she is taking one of my classes. She is in my 10th grade US History class. Recently, I started using small group projects in my class. I simply want my students to learn to cooperate, exchange ideas, and produce the project together. Although Aisha is willing to take part in these small group projects, she does not want to be in groups with male students because of her religious beliefs. When she told me about this, I told her that she was in the United States and that she had to work with whoever she is in a group with. In the first group project, Aisha was in a group with three males and one female students. She simply did not participate in any of the group activities. I wonder if should reconsider my original position on this issue and accommodate Aisha by having her work only with girls. Would I be doing her a disservice? What should I do? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I believe it would benefit the teacher to allow the student to work in an all female group. It would make the student more comfortable and allow her to follow and respect her religious beliefs. It is the responsibility of teachers to accommodate the needs of each of our students to ensure they are getting the most out of our instruction. If the teacher refuses to accommodate the student based on her religious beliefs he could be creating a problem for himself as well. The girl's parents could make a complaint against the teacher for not meeting the needs of their daughter. As a parent I would be angry if my children were told they couldn't pray at school or were forced to do something that was against our beliefs. I do realize that many religious beliefs and customs can seem odd to many Americans. I often have a problem with some of my students refusing to say the pledge in the morning before class. Some religions do not condone pledging allegiance to the American flag, but I believe it is extremely disrespectful to refuse to recite the pledge of allegiance. Many people have fought and died for our flag so that we can enjoy our freedom, but that freedom also includes one's right to refuse to recite the pledge.