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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!)
As a lot of people have already suggested, I think having a private conference with the parents first would be a great idea. I don't think the child should necessarily be involved in the conference because you don't want to embarrass him. However, I think bringing the nurse in to discuss hygiene would be helpful also. After you have a conference with the parents you could ask them if they would like to explain this to their child or have them explain together in another conference like setting. I'm not sure if I think it's a good idea to tell the students that some cultures don't treat hygiene the same as we do because I have this fear that their immediate reaction would be something like: "EWW!" We are talking elementary kids. I do think they need to be told not to pick on the kid though. |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I agree that a private conference should be offered and the parents then discuss this with the child. I also think the nurse or the counselor coming in and doing a lesson on good hygiene would be a great way to expose the child to another cultures beliefs. I too think the other students should be made aware of this child's beliefs and discuss that this is bullying. Hopefully the other children will understand. |
| Rated On: June 4, 2014 12:47 am |
| Rated By: Kimberly Rahn |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I think this is a great idea. |
| Rated On: October 16, 2014 6:15 pm |
| Rated By: Angela Avery |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I think this would be a great way to handle the situation. Perhaps the parents would end up being grateful that you approached them about this since they are still getting used to a new culture. You can always explain it very kindly and respectfully, while still helping the parents to understand what the situation is. |
| Rated On: October 19, 2014 3:44 pm |
| Rated By: esaSaV |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I think a lesson on health would be a great idea to implement in a lesson! |
| Rated On: July 10, 2015 2:34 am |
| Rated By: RaMevy |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: Kids are kids, yes. They can be very sensitive as well as insensitive. You have to talk to the parents and let them know what's going on. Only telling the kids that they need to have good hygiene is useless if they already think they do. |
| Rated On: October 17, 2015 5:59 am |
| Rated By: nydyra |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: I think you present some great ideas
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| Rated On: October 18, 2015 4:37 am |
| Rated By: Krystalynn Gulczewski |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I hadn't thought of bringing in the nurse. I think her/his presence could be helpful. |
| Rated On: October 19, 2015 12:14 am |
| Rated By: eJeSaX |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I really like this solution because I also believe that the child should be there. Mostly because he may not really know why the other students are teasing him. Welcoming the nurse come in an stalk to the students will inform all of the students and become more aware of their bodies. |
| Rated On: October 17, 2016 12:19 am |
| Rated By: Raven B |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I agree, I think a private conference is the best possible solution. |
| Rated On: March 5, 2017 5:03 pm |
| Rated By: QaHyWe |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I love having the nurse come in to teach the hygiene lesson because she is a professional and not the teacher. |
| Rated On: October 14, 2017 12:43 am |
| Rated By: GaVyme |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I like the suggestion of bringing the nurse in to discuss hygiene. This may make it seem like more of a routine thing. Good idea about having a strictly parent-teacher conference. |
| Rated On: October 15, 2017 11:55 pm |
| Rated By: eHuPas |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I agree with the importance of talking to the parents, but what made me choose this as the best answer was that it was also suggesting that the other students be taught not to make fun of others. While it is important to discuss hygiene, children should also be taught what is and isn't appropriate to bring up. |
| Rated On: October 16, 2017 1:56 am |
| Rated By: PeMuQa |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: This is a good solution, this is what I would do as well. |
| Rated On: February 20, 2018 11:21 pm |
| Rated By: uDyJeZ |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: Couldn't have said it better myself! |
| Rated On: February 25, 2018 6:43 am |
| Rated By: epuMat |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: This seems realistic |
| Rated On: October 11, 2018 8:50 pm |
| Rated By: uTaGuv |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this.
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| Rated On: December 4, 2018 1:49 am |
| Rated By: yzysuZ |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: IF I were in this situation I would exactly do this. Opening up communication with the parents could be the most important thing and enforcing humanity and ethic into the class room would be the next thing. |
| Rated On: October 20, 2019 12:49 am |
| Rated By: upuneG |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: This was a great suggestion that I feel is culturally appropriate. I think the idea of the school nurse being involved is a great idea, too. Not bringing the child in it is also important. The situation is already embarrassing, I am sure that would make it so much worse. |
| Rated On: October 18, 2020 7:18 pm |
| Rated By: beVuLu |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I think working with the parents to create a plan of action is the best way to go about it since they know their child better than anyone. |
| Rated On: October 19, 2020 1:22 am |
| Rated By: peXehu |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I agree talking to the parents is the most sufficient idea. Other tactics can be embarrassing for the child. |
| Rated On: March 8, 2021 3:49 am |
| Rated By: pydara |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I agree, the student does not need to be involved. A conference with the parents should bring up the cause of this issue and help the teacher understand if the mistreatment from other students is affecting the child at home. |
| Rated On: October 26, 2021 1:29 am |
| Rated By: geTuPa |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: Going to the parents first is best. |
| Rated On: October 29, 2021 5:12 am |
| Rated By: Drew Brown |
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Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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| Comments: I agree that a nurse would help when having a discussion with the student's caregivers. |
| Rated On: November 13, 2022 8:12 pm |
| Rated By: buTuDe |
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