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!) On the flip side, if the teacher has known Aisha for a long time then wouldn't you think he would know some of her personal beliefs? Therefore, if he had her in a class why would the teacher assign a project knowing this might cause a conflict. If the student is typically a well-behaved student, allow her to work alone or in a group of girls. I'm only making this statement because this past December I had a Jehovah witness student in my room. We celebrated "Christmas around the world" and her parents didn't want her to participate in the events. But one day my students were decorating bags so they could put their gifts in and I gave the student a bag to illustrate whatever she wanted on it only so she different feel left out or different because of her religious background.