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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!)
This situation is very tricky. To diminish a person's beliefs, especially when they are related to religion, can be extremely damaging, and will never build trust between the student and teacher. I would plan to speak with Aisha in a conference, possibly with the counselor and/or her parents present as well, to determine why exactly she feels the way that she does. If this separation from males is something that she intends to continue throughout her life somehow (which will be difficult living in the U.S.), then maybe it will not harm her emotional and social growth to allow her to only interact with females. I would definitely want the input of parents or the counselor on this issue. Also, I would talk to some of her other teachers to see if this issue has come up in their classes as well. This situation really makes me think that something else is going on with Aisha that she may need to discuss with the counselor, especially if her parents don't share her beliefs or this is a new development. At no time would I pass any judgment on her belief, but instead ask nonjudgmental questions to seek to understand.