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!) This is a complicated situation, I must admit. In my opinion, it is very important for her to learn to work with males. Beyond the classroom, the idea of refusing to work with a male will cause her great hardship in college and in the workplace. As an adult, we often have to work with several individuals we do not like at all. That is life. However, she seems to very adamant about the fact that she doesn't want to work with boys, so much so that her grade will eventually reflect on that considering she cannot fully participate in group assignments. I would first start her off with all girls and then slowly add more boys to the group as time goes on, and warn her of the idea ahead of time so she can begin to get used to the idea of working with boys on school assignments. It is something she must learn to do, but I feel the best way immerse into it is slowly.