Your student came to the United States from Yemen. She just turned 15. Her father is a deeply religious Muslim and has worked hard to keep the traditions of his religion and culture. Your student wears a berka to school but under the berka she wears jeans. After she arrives at school she removes the berka and blends in with the other students. Unknown to her family she is also on the girls’ soccer team. She is popular with all of her classmates and has excelled in your class. Her average for all of her schoolwork is an A-. In a private conversation she told you her dream was to become a physical education teacher. She said that would be impossible though because she loves her family and her father objects to her going to college. After class on Monday, she told you she wouldn’t be in your class anymore. When you ask why she begins crying and says her father arranged a marriage for her. She is leaving from Kennedy airport on Friday to fly to Los Angles to meet her new husband. Her father said she doesn’t need to go to school anymore because her husband is 26 and will be able to care for her. What would you say to her? How would you explain the situation to the other students? This is a true story. One of my students was the girl’s teacher.
