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!) You would not be doing her a disservice. If she chooses not to work with males now in group work then there is a possibility that she will not work with males in the future. It is unfair to assume that she will be working with or collaborating with males in the future just because this is the way that our culture (the culture of the United States) works. Just because she is in the United States does not mean that she has to reject the beliefs of her religion and appropriate the belief that you have of group work. She can work in all girl groups just fine and still learn to cooperate with other, exchange ideas, and produce a project with others. It is important that she be comfortable in the classroom and feel that her culture and beliefs are valuable. Speaking to her parents about the issue and learning more about her religious beliefs would be a good idea, as well as educating your class about different cultural norms. The students would play a big role of making her feel comfortable in the classroom depending on if they accept or reject her beliefs, therefore it is important that they be aware that different cultures have different values and norms.