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!) Since this is a global society, you can't just be like "this is 'Merica. My way or the highway!" That's the same as telling a student he or she MUST speak English. Establish her actual religion. Make a call to her parents. Ask them if that is the way they practice. If it is, then you should probably make accommodations when possible. Since she is in a co-ed school, this should have been an issue before now. There should be some type of documentation. There is a chance she is using her religion to get out of doing something she doesn't want to do. If her parents say that this behavior is not in line with their religious beliefs, start deducting points on her assignments.