So over the hygeine talk

Flare, ASN, BSN · Jan 9, 2017

We are a Title 1 School and this is a big issue in our school. The teachers drive me crazy over this. We ask the teachers to first have a general hygiene talk in their room first about bathing, wearing clean clothing, brushing teeth/hair, etc. Then I ask the teacher to talk to the student if still an issue (which it always is) and they "say" they will but it's obvious most aren't because they send them to me with a sealed note asking me to talk to the student about hygiene yet the poor child is always told just drop this off to the nurse so they get blind sided. We also send a whole class letter home to parents about keeping their kids clean to prevent disruption of learning process due to odors. After that, we will sometimes call parents or even have a conference. The parents come in smelling just as bad as their kid. We ask if they need help with laundry, detergent, etc. I've learned some people just don't have good hygiene and it doesn't bother them so they don't change. We've provided laundry services, place to clean up, free shampoo and soap and did any of these family's change? Nope. It's their way of life. I'm in a grade school. The one girl I've talked to so much and I'll ask when she had her last shower and she'll say she's had one last night and one in the morning and even washed her hair yet her hair is greasy and she stinks. I'll offer clean clothes and she'll say these are clean when there are obvious stains on them. We provided her with new shoes and I asked if she needed new socks and she said no but when she took off her shoes her socks were MUDDY on the bottom. She did let me give her new ones so her new shoes wouldn't get dirty. I honestly don't think she smells it because she always looks shocked that someone feels she smells bad. However, we've heard her house stinks too. I think she's so used to it that it doesn't bother her. We've even referred some families to CPS in the past due to living conditions but nothing ever happens. The problem is these kids don't have many friends because they smell so darn bad but the parents either don't care or just are worried about bigger things. It's sad and I don't know what the solution is but I don't think picking on the kids constantly over it is helpful either. It's such a sensitive topic and I truly hate broaching it with student or parent because I haven't found one who has changed yet.

This is the exact scenario I find myself a surprising amount. Where Hygiene is just not a part of the child's life and when you meet the family, you realize that everyone lives like this. Mom might shower a little more regular, but the clothes are no more cleaner and Dad might have a great job, but maybe his job doesn't require him to look or smell any particular way. So literally no attention is given to how dirty or clean anyone in the family is. Yes, the water is running. And the child does actually come in once in a while with clean hair - so the potential is there.

Like i said, you can only lead a horse to water so many times. You can't make it drink - nor bathe. Teachers often forget this. That we can't force them. We can't forcibly give students sponge baths in our offices. And if they are not willing or interested in hygiene, there really isn't a magic combination of words.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Jan 9, 2017

This is the exact scenario I find myself a surprising amount. Where Hygiene is just not a part of the child's life and when you meet the family, you realize that everyone lives like this. Mom might shower a little more regular, but the clothes are no more cleaner and Dad might have a great job, but maybe his job doesn't require him to look or smell any particular way. So literally no attention is given to how dirty or clean anyone in the family is. Yes, the water is running. And the child does actually come in once in a while with clean hair - so the potential is there.
Like i said, you can only lead a horse to water so many times. You can't make it drink - nor bathe. Teachers often forget this. That we can't force them. We can't forcibly give students sponge baths in our offices. And if they are not willing or interested in hygiene, there really isn't a magic combination of words.

It really comes down to our societal norms and if it is worth it pursuing the norm. Funny that with all the cultural diversity that academia loves to embrace they take issue with this. You may want to retaliate the teacher's complaint with this.

ana010 · Jan 9, 2017

After I have had this talk with a student, I often tell my teachers it is a social norm, as there is no policy regarding this I am very sorry, but I am not addressing this awkward topic again. I encourage them to address it either as a blanket statement to the class, "you all need to shower and use deodorant tonight or in the morning or both!". Then follow up individually, if needed. There are only so many times I'm willing to tell Joey he smells. And the last time he came in, he smiled and said, "Is this about a shower?"