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!) Yes, I think that more sensitivity should be shown towards Aisha's religious believes. Although she now lives in the United States, the First Amendment of the U.S Constitution entitles individuals to freedom of religion. If her religion restricts her from working closely with males, then that should be respected. It would be a disservice to make such decisions for her and not allow her to make the decision to work with males on her own. Perhaps informing her that she will ultimately have to work with males since she lives in the U.S would have been a better approach that making her choose between her grade and her religion. No one should be placed in that type of situation especially here in the U.S. where people are suppose to have freedom of choice. Allow Aisha to make the choice of working with males. If she decides to follow her beliefs, grant her that opportunity to work with females. Allow her to make the decision to transition if she eventually decides to work with males.