| |
|
|
| |
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 very touchy subject. Depending on what grade level you are teaching, I would go over a hygiene lesson. Maybe inform the students that taking showers is fun because it makes you feel all clean. You could also add things like making sure you wash your hands all the time to not spread germs and brushing your teeth. Next, I would have the school nurse talk to his parents. Sometimes, it is better for someone other than the teacher to tell parents this kind of information. If not the school nurse, then maybe a guidance counselor. The parents will tend to listen and be open to their ideas a little more than the teacher. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
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 a good solution. Incorporate it into the curriculum, other students may benefit as well. |
| Rated On: October 20, 2014 4:08 pm |
| Rated By: Maryssa Kane |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
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 love these ideas. If you handle matters discreetly, it is better for the child and goes over well with the parents. You never know what's going on at home and one should be mindful of that. |
| Rated On: June 8, 2015 2:04 am |
| Rated By: ezyXyh |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
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 a lesson on health would be a great idea to implement in a lesson! |
| Rated On: July 10, 2015 2:35 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 think you present some great ideas
|
| Rated On: October 18, 2015 4:38 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: NA |
| Rated On: October 10, 2018 12:48 am |
| Rated By: heJaQy |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
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 preparing a lesson for all the students about personal hygiene is a great idea. This particular child is smelly because of cultural traditions, but there may be others that smell also, if not now latter on. I see that all students can benefit from a lesson. I think the guidance counselor can talk with the parents to avoid the thinking that "this particular teacher" thinks that my child smells. parents can have a broader perspective of the issue. |
| Rated On: October 13, 2018 6:11 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 agree with the fact that depending on what grade you are teaching also depends on if you would go over a lesson. I also agree with the fact that having the school nurse or counselor talk with the parents is better that way they can make a plan on how to approach the situation. |
| Rated On: October 16, 2019 1:25 pm |
| Rated By: Amber Hyatt |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
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 love the idea of doing a lesson, but talking to the nurse is a great idea. |
| Rated On: March 8, 2021 3:51 am |
| Rated By: pydara |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
