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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!)
Ideally a teacher who has good communication and trust with parents could discuss the issue with the students parents. However, I think the best solution is to teach the other students to be considerate of the feelings of others. This doesn't mean that the other students can't talk to the student about his body odor but it does mean that the students will talk to the other student in a manor that is respectful and kind. The teacher should take steps to make sure that the other students do not make fun of or pick on the student with the body odor. However, if the other students notice and point out the body odor that is not something that should be avoided. Learning to deal with other people and their needs and wants is an important part of going to school. Sometimes people have to change the way they are to meet the social norms of the majority. However, the majority should be considerate of the minority and treat him the way they would want to be treated in the same situation.
 
     
     
  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 2:43 am
Rated By: RaMevy