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!) The first thing I would probably do is schedule a conference with Aisha, her parents, and possibly the counselor and/or the principal. During the conference I would check to see if religion was truly the reason she didn't want to work in a group with boys. If this is the case, then I would respect her religious preference and not force the issue. Forcing her to be in the small group with boys is only causing more problems because she will not like the instructor, nor will she participate, which will not only hurt her, but other members in the group as well.