 |
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 see both sides of the situation and understand that Aisha is following her beliefs while the instructor wants her to succeed in today's world. However, I believe that we have to respect the cultures and beliefs of all students in order for them to succeed. I commend Aisha because she did not give in and conform to what was expected -she stood up for what she believed in. I think that the instructor would need to have conferences with her parents to get a better understanding of their beliefs and thoughts on the matter. I also think that the instructor should self-reflect and determine if it matters how the groups are compiled (male/female). I believe that we have to make accommodations in order for students to be successful because as educators our goal should always be for students to succeed. |
||
Rating
|
||||||||||||||||||