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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 like the idea of deferring this issue to the guidance counselor or school nurse. They can take care of such a sensitive issue in a professional way, and then you won't look/feel like the bad guy. You don't want this poor kid to be made fun of, but you don't want to offend his people, so ask the guidance counselor or nurse to step in and help you out.
 
     
     
  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:
Rated On: February 18, 2013 12:49 pm
Rated By: Katy Willoughby
 
     
     
  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:
Rated On: March 2, 2013 11:54 pm
Rated By: eruHeB
 
     
     
  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 is just pushing the problem on to someone else. I do agree that the school guidance counselor should be involved with the solution I don't think it is right to just send the problem to them.
Rated On: October 19, 2014 1:23 pm
Rated By: yjeNus
 
     
     
  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: I think its important to use your resources.
Rated On: October 21, 2014 1:42 am
Rated By: qyryMa
 
     
     
  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: Great post!!!
Rated On: July 10, 2015 2:41 am
Rated By: RaMevy
 
     
     
  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: I didn't even think about this, but it is a really good idea. It is such a difficult subject because where the child is from, not showering all the time is a normal thing. Kids in America are usually told that body odor is a bad thing but this young boy has no idea. The boy being bullied is a really unfortunate situation especially since he is so nice and doesn't deserve to be made fun of. Having someone else talk to the child and explain in a very casual way could be a great way to get the point across but not in a bold way.
Rated On: October 18, 2015 4:01 am
Rated By: yseHug
 
     
     
  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: I think you present some great ideas
Rated On: October 18, 2015 4:37 am
Rated By: Krystalynn Gulczewski
 
     
     
  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: I agree, but I think the teacher should also speak with the parents. It may not be an issue the little boy has control over.
Rated On: March 6, 2016 10:03 pm
Rated By: Allyssa Straquadine
 
     
     
  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 No
The suggested solution is original No
Comments: I would not do this. This is a problem easily correctable by the teacher and should not be passed to someone else.
Rated On: March 6, 2016 11:27 pm
Rated By: yLeBun
 
     
     
  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: This is reasonable for the teacher.
Rated On: March 7, 2016 1:41 am
Rated By: ezyHes
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
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 Yes
Comments: The idea of meeting with a guidance counselor or someone in a similar position is a good idea. However, a teacher does not need to just push off this smelly student to the counselor alone. The teacher needs to always be included in these meetings, because it will be a comforting factor for the student rather than being sent to the office alone.
Rated On: July 5, 2016 2:40 am
Rated By: aWyVys
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No
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: not really the place of the nurse
Rated On: October 14, 2017 2:01 am
Rated By: emetub
 
     
     
  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 don't think singling out the child individually is the best option.
Rated On: October 16, 2017 3:03 am
Rated By: uWureg
 
     
     
  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: even this solution could be the easiest solution for a teacher, I do not think it targets the issue. As I said before, teaching a lesson can be helpful for all students.
Rated On: October 13, 2018 6:17 pm
Rated By: tabape
 
     
     
  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: I like this idea the most, at least to get an opinion from those that deal with issues with parents and their children for their job. It is important to be respectful but also protect the child
Rated On: March 7, 2021 5:38 pm
Rated By: dazugu
 
     
     
  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 do not think completely deferring the situation to another faculty member is entirely helpful; however, instead working as a team and discussing with the nurse or counselor might bring more clarity for a direct conversation with parents.
Rated On: October 26, 2021 1:33 am
Rated By: geTuPa