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  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!)
Aisha, obviously is a smart and intelligent person who works hard for the grades in which she makes. Because of her willingness to succeed, I would seek clarification of her religion and get to the initial problem of working with male students. Once clarification and understanding is obtained, I would then move Aisha to a different group. This group would be a group of females. Students come from many walks of life, have different cultural backgrounds, as well as different religious beliefs. As educators, we should create groups and a classroom setting that encourages learning. In order for Aisha to succeed she needs to be placed in a different group.