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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!)
This is a tough situation for a teacher to deal with, novice or experienced. I was at a loss about how to handle a situation like this until I read through some of the other solutions. I feel like the best way to address this should being in the classroom weather you teach the lesson or the school nurse depending on what your school generally does, but I would begin with a classroom lesson dealing with hygiene and including how some other cultures have different hygiene habits. Some children this age are also undergoing body changes that require they start wearing deodorant and this may be a new idea for some of the students so this should also be included in the lesson as well. I also thing a good idea for a follow up to this lesson would be discussing bullying with your students, explain to students that bullying can take the form of name calling, teasing and isolating others and that you won't allow it in you classroom . I do think that you should be as culturally sensitive as possible in the situation as to not offend the child or his parents so I think starting to address the issues in the way I previously stated is a good starting point and I believe it will help you. If you have doubts about what course of action to pursue consulting with your school counselor and nurse are always good ideas.
 
     
     
  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 2:44 am
Rated By: RaMevy