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!) This is an uncomfortable situation and teaching fifth grade, I have had to have the "body odor" discussion with my students. Usually, I would suggest having a discussion with the whole class about hygiene and the importance of taking care of yourself however, since the students are already making fun of the student, they will know who your lesson is directed at. I suggest that you hold a conference with the student's parents. The parents will be accepting and willing to help if they know that their child is being made fun of. Make sure that you let the parents know you are concerned about their child and care about their academic success. I would also punish the children who are ridiculing the student because that should also be addressed. If the parents are not receptive and find as if you are being disrespectful towards their culture, I would then seek help from administration.