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!) First, I would talk to my school counselor. This would allow me to simply let the counselor know yes, you are aware of the child's cultural background but the order of the child has been continuous. I would have kept a record of the number of days, what the smell smells like (body odor, urine, etc.). I would let the counselor know that the order is now causing a huge disturbance in my classroom setting and negatively impacting the educational learning occurring as the students are now becoming more consumed with the body odor of the child because it is so fowl and so strong, the students are now criticizing the child, making fun of him, and that there has been constant negativity occurring between the rest of the class. I would be personally worried about the hygiene and cleanliness of the child and whether or not those important life factors are being reinforced at home. From this point I would talk to the class about hygiene, and how their bodies are changing. I would remind them to take daily showers and use deodorant and other person care products. If the smell continued I would have the counselor talk with the child in an individual counseling session, just reinforcing the importance of cleanliness, daily baths, brushing teeth, etc. While it is important to respect the culture of others, it is also important to make sure the child is not being neglected at home. It is the responsibility of the teacher to make sure that the students are being cared for at home. If the teacher feels that the student is not receiving the proper care it needs to be reported to the counselor, documented, and a follow up done to the parents. Elizabeth Comella