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!) I have always been told not to push religious beliefs upon students. Students should be able to feel comfortable with who they are, respectively. Also, we have always been told to approach things in a way that will provide students the opportunity to strive towards success. Therefore, if you know that she is not going to be successful in an uncomfortable situation, then do not put her there. Do not try to force students to be around others you know they are not going to strive towards success in. Allow them to slowly develop closeness with them before forcing them to work with one another.