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 feel that students' religious beliefs need to be respected. If she does not feel comfortable working with males due to religion, then I don't feel she should be required to. There are certain religions in which females only wear skirts/dresses. These females would not be required to wear shorts/pants in P.E. classes due to their religious beliefs, so Aisha should not be required to work with males if it goes against her beliefs or her family's. I do understand that you might feel you are doing her a disservice, but at this stage of her life, she is only 15-16 years of age and should be taught to ‘rebel' against her family and their culture.