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  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!)
This is a difficult situation since this is normal in the student's culture. I think you should first address this issue by having a mini-hygiene lesson with the entire class. During this lesson, you should also address appropriate ways to treat peers who may have hygiene issues. I also suggest sending home a parent letter to inform parents of the lesson being taught. If the problem continues, I suggest that you contact the parents for a conference. You should address the parents by asking them if the student has informed them of any issues at home and continue from there. You should also let them know how well he does in class and that you do not want this to effect him academically or emotionally.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: n/a
Rated On: March 1, 2016 6:33 pm
Rated By: uhyJas
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No
The suggested solution is relevant to the case No
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No
The suggested solution is original No
Comments: I think this might single out that student, even if that's not the intention
Rated On: February 20, 2018 11:20 pm
Rated By: uDyJeZ