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 that a face-to-face conference with the parents is necessary. During this conference, you can talk to the parents about the issue in a respectful manner. For example, you might share that you are concerned, because some other students have been making fun of the student because of how he smells. Then, you can explain that you would like to work with the parents to come to a solution to the problem. If they explain that they don't shower every day, then do not react with negativity; acknowledge and validate their cultural beliefs. If the parents prefer that you talk to the other students about their culture, then I think that's what you should do. Ultimately, I feel that being open and honest with the parents, and then allowing them to come up with a solution with which everyone is comfortable is key. Certainly, it can be an uncomfortable conversation, but I believe that, if it comes from a place of caring for their child, the parents will respect you and want to help.