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!) Being that Aisha just brought this up to you, I would state to her that groups have already been assigned for this topic and if she could be considerate and understand that to make a change immediately would disrupt your entire class. I would state to her that I would have to set up a meeting with her parents and the counselor to discuss a plan of action regarding groupwork. In the meeting, I would discuss the reasoning behind groups and explain that this is not only preparing Aisha for classwork, but it is also preparing her for the world of work because she will have to work with males in society as well. If they parents and the counselor come to an agreement that does not allow her to work in groups with males, then I would make the necessary changes as needed once this has been established.