Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Boy, don't you ever shower? It is obvious from the first day of class that one of the students has bad body odor. By the end of the third week, you start to realize that the student as Steve. The other students in the class are going to greater and greater lengths to avoid sitting next to him. They mime choking when he sits in the seat in front of them. Any reference to odor or smell in the classroom is met with snickering. Finally, one day after Steve comes in late and sits next to a student in the front row, he turns to Steve and says, "Boy, don't you ever shower?" The class breaks up in hysterics. When should I have intervened? How?, What should I say to student? What should I say to others? Should I confront the class with Steve present? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I think the best and first step is to always contact the parents for a private meeting. Perhaps just address that the child is facing some bullying and try to suggest maybe taking a shower first thing in the morning before school, or something of the nature. Do NOT make it seem like you are attacking or accusing the parents of anything or they will shut down immediately and not listen to anything you have to offer. Perhaps the boy runs around before school and the parents are simply unaware of the problem. This could also be something deeper like abuse or something of the nature, and perhaps then if the problem persists after the conference, it is time to take it to the school's social worker. They are trained in handling cases just like this.