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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!)
I think the teacher should respect Aisha's religious beliefs, but motivate her to work outside her comfort zone. The teacher should have started letting Aisha work in a group that had only girls. At the same time, the teacher should communicate with the family of the student to learn more information about the specific practices that are enforced by the religion. The educator could ask the parents about the situation that is occurring in the classroom and he/she should research more about the student's beliefs that affect the cultural identity/perspective. If I were the teacher in the situation, I would begin adding males into the small group one at a time to see how Aisha responds to the changes. If she is able to productively work without being withdrawn, I would praise the student for transitioning into a bicultural frame of reference. If the student is silent and does not respond to the changes of the small group, I would allow her to work with other members of her gender to complete the group activity. As long as she is able to work with other students, her group identity is being developed.