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 think you should accommodate her by having her work with all girls; especially, since you know her to be a smart and responsible student. The way you view the world is not her religion view of the world. You cannot expect her to go against what her religion and family has taught her. And what she knows to be true to her. To me, you are telling Aisha that what she believes doesn't matter. And the only way to learn is if she does it your way. If your goal is to simply teach the students to cooperate, then what does it matter if she is in a group with all girls? The education system has mandate teachers to make accommodations for all types of learners here and there over the years to insure that all students succeed in learning. Why should Aisha case be any different from those students?