Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Smelly Kid I guess I am still considered a novice teacher because I have been teaching for four years only. I am an elementary school teacher who teaches in a mostly White suburban setting. Couple of weeks ago a new student joined my classroom. He and his parents recently moved from Eastern Europe. His father works at the local university as a music professor. I am not sure what his mother does. He is a wonderful child. Although he speaks little English, he tries to participate in class activities and to make friends with others in the classroom. Couple days after he arrived, I noticed a strange smell around him. I was sure that it was body odor. The other students in the classroom started noticing it too. They started making fun of him. I learned in my multicultural classes when I was at the university that not all cultures promote taking showers everyday, and that body odor is not considered a problem everywhere in the world. Now I have a big dilemma. If I tell my student about it, I might embarrass him. If I sent a note to his parents, I may appear disrespectful toward their culture. But the way he is treated in the classroom by the other students is becoming a real problem. What should I do? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I think you should begin by conducting several science/health lessons about personal hygiene with the entire class. They all will benefit. All kids come in smelling after recess. Emphasize that as young people develop and grow into their adult bodies, it's important to be understand the changes and how to take care of it. Also point out that just as getting dressed in the morning is something they do without being told, personal hygiene is now responsibility they should assume on their own. Cute video clips are available on YouTube and Pinterest. Cultural diversity lessons may be beneficial as well. Simultaneously taught, students would learn that hygiene habits of other cultures are not wrong, just different. If the lessons alone don't provide the desired outcome, then I would seek advice from the nurse, the counselor, administrators, or others that might offer valuable insight and suggestions.