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've been in this same situation (but in a high school setting), and it's difficult. To begin with, I would remind the whole class (maybe at the end of the day, after being outside for recess, or after PE) that their bodies are developing and changing and that everyone needs to remember to shower daily and wear deodorant; by reminding all students, you aren't only talking to your new student, and let's be honest, all students could use a reminder every now and then. If this doesn't work, I would involve the counselor. Maybe he/she has a better understanding of the child's culture and has a way to inform the family that would not be offensive. If the you and the counselor meet with the parents, I would focus on the fact that the child is getting picked on, which is detrimental to his learning. I would address the other students in the classroom by telling them that any form of bullying will not be tolerated.