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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!)
I would definitely send a letter home to the parents explaining to them the cultural differences. By explaining to them politely the situation and letting them know that body odor is in fact an issue in this country they may be more likely to open up to the criticism and not feel like the information is disrespectful. |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
No
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
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| The suggested solution is original |
No
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| Comments: Yeah but what if the kid is just sweaty and needs deodorant. There might not be a culture issue. |
| Rated On: October 14, 2014 1:52 am |
| Rated By: ybaHyp |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
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| The suggested solution is original |
No
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| Comments: I would not suggest sending a letter to the parents as the way things are written can be misinterpreted. This also does not seem very personal and this type of situation requires a personal conference out of respect for their culture and feelings. |
| Rated On: October 15, 2014 8:26 pm |
| Rated By: Dana Johnson |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
No
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
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| The suggested solution is original |
No
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| Comments: This seems really offensive. I do not think this solution is useful. |
| Rated On: October 19, 2014 3:33 pm |
| Rated By: uJasuX |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
No
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
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| The suggested solution is original |
No
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| Comments: I just do not think a letter would be the right solution. I think it needs to be a formal sit down with the parents, school counselor, and child to discuss the issue. Then the cultural differences would be addressed in the conference. |
| Rated On: June 3, 2015 10:27 pm |
| Rated By: Tina Joiner |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
No
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
No
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
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| The suggested solution is original |
No
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| Comments: It could work, but you need to respect an individual's culture |
| Rated On: February 22, 2019 12:08 am |
| Rated By: Lawrence Poluchowicz |
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