Sensitive question for teachers

[janeite]

I have a Key Stage Four group with several pupils with erm...BO issues. It has got to the point where my other classes come in and say, "Arghh miss, you've had that stinky class again". The pupils have all been spoken to gently several times (not by me) and they improve for a few days and then it gets bad again.

Any ideas how I can help my classroom to stay smelling nice even after this class? Would rather not have to use nasty chemical air freshener things.

Please help. They are a gorgeous class but today was worse than ever!

Can you not deliver a lesson on the importance of (daily) personal hygiene? If that doesn't work at least better weather is coming and you can start opening the windows!

Windows open today and fan on - it was freezing and still smelly! A few of them have had individual counselling re: hygiene: wouldn't want to do whole public lesson thing outside of PSME which I don't teach any more.

Do you think it is down to lack of personal hygiene or are their hormones working double-time at this age? My DD1 (10) is going through early puberty and, despite daily washing and the use of a deoderant, you can tell when it's the end of the school day!

Quite amused that they call it hygiene 'counselling' - is there a helpdesk set up for it too? Maybe you need that more than the pupils

It's down to infrequently washed school uniform on the whole I think.

There must be something that smells nice and will help mask it!

I use incence or scented candles and because of my subject get away with it. I also sometimes have some cotton wool soaked in vanilla that fragrances the room.

In my new room I hae some Jasmine and hyacinths that have a strong aroma although the kids now say my room smells like a rabbit hutch.

My KS4 (& some KS3) are similar. Mostly it's hasty getting dressed after PE (no shower - ridiculous 50 minute periods), unwashed clothes & a touchingly misplaced conviction in the efficacy of Lynx, copiously applied...

Is it particular individuals? Could form tutors have a quiet word (have had to do this with a lad in my Year 10 tutor group. With limited success I'm afraid).

Not allowed candles because of health and safety unfortunately.

Am liking the sound of cotton wool and vanilla - do you tuck it behind the radiator to warm it up?

Rabbit hutch would be better than essence of Year 10 methinks!

Am feeling a bit guilty for this thread as they really are lovely, lovely pupils.

Quiet words have been had - several times. They don't even put their faith in Lynx - just in their own natural charms I think!

I have underfloor heating so the radiator is not an option but at home I do that.

How far does the vanilla scent permeate when unheated then Twinset?

Janeite is so trying not to be jealous of underfloor heating.

I was making mosques today with a class and they were sat working on the floor because it was warm.

If you have a good vanilla it goes quite far. AT home I put it on lightbulbs as well.

Can you do incense or is that forbidden as well? I hae to use my incense in hiding

Will try vanilla.

Can you still buy those plug in things that you put essential oils in? And if so, does anybody know where I could get one?

I always have fresh flowers in my room as well things like stocks/

Unfortunately my room is used by several other teachers and things sometimes get damaged when I'm not in there (inner city school) so fresh flowers would probably just end up in the girls' hair!

lol it is a pain when you are not in your own room. I was teaching in a house room until recently so could not have stuff out. I am now living the dream in my new room

Twinnys posh classroom has 5 cupboards too ya know .

I find burning matches very effective. Really.

and at underfloor heating.

I will out pictures of my new room on my profile so you can swoon, I actually have one of the worst rooms in the block but love it.

Yes I love my five cupboards I just want to say as a perfectionist I was part way through doing my displays when we took the photo.

If it's their clothes, then probably their parents should be contacted and told they need a fresh set of clothes every day because it's leading to comment/ ostracism. Not much the students themselves can do about it unless they do their own laundry.

When I was first pg I kept giving my GCSE class neck ache as I circled the room to teach. I couldn't stand being at my desk next to the two smelliest boys in the year. They used to reek of BO, cigarette smoke, unwashed clothes and garlic! I used to have all the windows open until the smell of cooking fat from the kitchens used to waft in {bluergh}

Oh

Mind you, I have one of the best rooms in my department so perhaps I shouldn't whinge too much. I had to teach in another lab today and it was really dingy. But half my students have tio sit with their back to the board and that is just plain daft...

It is one of the smallest rooms and I dont have as many windows as the others. Some rooms have views of the purbecks or the sea. But at least the kids dont daydream out of my windows.

I am the newest member of staff hence last choice in room. I hate teaching in dingy rooms.

That room's blimming enormous Twinset! Unless you've got an estate agent camera or something...

It is not a small room, although have rearranged my furnitre since that was taken so I was getting nothing done with my desk in the window as I was day dreaming. Apparantly my room looks a little smaller now. But the other rooms are huge.