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 believe that you should allow Aisha to share with the class what is unique about her culture. I would encourage the teacher to learn about Aisha's culture independently so that he can better instruct her within the classroom without running into to similar problems in the future. Allow Aisha to explain why her culture only permits her to work with other females and create a classroom of understanding so that the other students do not think that she is receiving preferential treatment. In working with Aisha, I would also try to teach her about what is deemed culturally acceptable here in the United States. Aisha needs to feel like her religious beliefs, culture, and ideals are being respected. At the same time, I believe that she needs to understand that refusing to work in a group because of the gender may also create some tension among her classmates. So it is vital that Aisha be afforded the opportunity to self-advocate about her culture and religious beliefs.