I think I'm going to be sick

sarahandeddiejune212008

First I want to say that I love my students, but one of them has smelled horrible all week.  Yesterday and today his BO smell has lingered in my classroom - and he's only here 30 minutes a day.  The smell is making me sick.  I've got the windows open even though it is freezing out.  I feel so bad for this little guy.  He's only in kindergarten and I'm guessing he hasn't had a bath or clean clothes in a week.  I wish I could take him home with me and get him and his clothes clean.

FlannelGrl

If he's in kindergarten and smells that bad... and haven't had a bath or clean clothes in a while isn't that a sign of mistreatment? Maybe i'm overreacting but shouldn't you report that?  I could just be overreacting...?

sarahandeddiejune212008

Unfortunately that isn't a real sign of neglect.  We know the family is poor, but they have shelter and clothing.  DCFS won't do anything (the classroom teacher has reported it already).  Unless a child doesn't have food or has visable signs of abuse a whole lot isn't done.  I don't agree with the system, but that is what I've been told on every report I've made.

smrpt

I'm a high school teacher and boy those kids and the range of smells- from BO to perfumes and lotions... I'm nauseous almost constantly when I'm at school!  My classroom already has a no smelly stuff rule, but when you have 35 of them stuffed in the room together.. it's just unavoidably smelly.  

Hi725

I've worked in schools and the nurse typically keeps changes of clothing for the kids. Can you send him there for a change of clothes and a wuick wipe with some baby wipes?

This breaks my heart. If you notice, so do the other kids. Poor kid won't have any friends if he smells that awful. 

sarah731

Send the school nurse an e-mail about the situation and have her call him down without announcing why. She can then talk to him about ways to wash the "important areas" even if he isn't bathing daily, and give him some anti-perspirant if needed. She can also see him something he is eating is causing his body odor. A lot of students that eat more ethnic foods have different smelling perspiration. 

Kudos to you for being sensitive to this kiddo. I'm a nurse and work in a middle school and so often teachers will say to kids "go to the nurse b/c xyz." It is frustrating to me that someone can be so insensitive, especially when it is a hygiene issue and the student is more than likely aware of it.