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 do not feel that discussing the issue with the parents or the child is appropriate at this time. I would instead address the issues involving how and why the other children feel it is appropriate to make fun of the student. After addressing the students in the classroom, I would then monitor the affected student's behaviors and performance, to see if he is experiencing any social, emotional, or academic issues that would garner appropriate actions. If that is the case, I would then conference with the parents. However, at no point would I even attempt to recommend they make any changes to his body odor. His scent could come form any number of things, including incense from religion or certain spices being sweat through the skin. As long as the parents have been made aware of the situation, they can then choose how to address the child about the issue, if they even decide to do so.                 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 2:42 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 that this teacher is just concerned, wants to prevent bullying and more. Rated On: October 21, 2019 12:09 am Rated By: ygyXeT                 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 do agree with this to an extent, that it is important to talk to his peers first. Then involving the parents of the child would be best because they can handle it in accordance with their culture. Rated On: October 31, 2021 8:51 pm Rated By: dedyqa