I'm a little peeved.

[binny]

So yesterday DS14, a freshman in High School, came home and said "something weird happened at school today". He said that his geography teacher came up behind him while he was sitting in class and said pretty loudly "Cam do you smoke or do your parents smoke? Because it really smells like ciggarettes over here"

Cam said he told him it wasnt him and that none of us smoked. Then he said the kid in front of him turned around said "Sorry thats me, my parents smoke a lot and I hate it but there isnt anything I can do about it" Good for the kid for taking the heat off Cam (and no Im not naive my son could have been smoking but he wasnt.)

I felt really bad for the kid. When did it become ok to point out that somebody smells bad? Especially to a kid in front of his classmates?
Cam said the kid was pretty cool about it and that he really hates it because everything they own reeks. he said they both smoke in the car and he hates that his clothes stink so bad. How embarassing though!

 

[momof1princess]

the teacher is an insensitive clod. poor kid it's not his fault. but kudos to him for speaking up in defense of your son. that was very brave.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Report the teacher...

 

[cabanafrau]

Maybe the insensitive clod delivery was intentional -- he may have indeed been trying to shame your kid out of a concern he was smoking and he was genuinely concerned for your son? I know, I know, it wasn't maybe the best approach, but consider maybe it was coming from a good, although clueless, perspective.

 

[wvjules]

Maybe the insensitive clod delivery was intentional -- he may have indeed been trying to shame your kid out of a concern he was smoking and he was genuinely concerned for your son? I know, I know, it wasn't maybe the best approach, but consider maybe it was coming from a good, although clueless, perspective.

 

[stashbin]

Relax! He didn't say your kid smelled like garbage...he said it smelled like cigarettes over there. Teachers have a tough job and part of that job is making sure that their students aren't smoking. If Cam wasn't smoking...no worries.

 

[Brit17]

That is embarrassing and sad that a teacher would do that in front of a classroom full of students ... I feel bad for the boy who admitted it was him ... what was the point of the teacher calling out the smell of cigarette smoke anyway? ... if it really concerned him, he could have done it more discreetly ... why don't some teachers (or people in general) think before they speak? ... don't they remember how it was to be a teenager and how it feels to be embarrassed among their peers especially at that age? ...

 

[mjkacmom]

Maybe the insensitive clod delivery was intentional -- he may have indeed been trying to shame your kid out of a concern he was smoking and he was genuinely concerned for your son? I know, I know, it wasn't maybe the best approach, but consider maybe it was coming from a good, although clueless, perspective.

 

[binny]

I understand the concern aspect but I would think if that were a concern to the teacher he could have handled it much better. He could have pulled him aside and confronted him but he said that the teacher made a point to say it fairly loudly. Embarassing a kid is not going to get them fess up in front of the entire class KWIM? AND what if it were us that smoked? How would that help anything? What purpose would it serve other than to embarass the kid even more?

BTW, he didnt smell like smoke at all, I would be able to smell it a mile away.

 

[binny]

oh and I said I was *little* peeved. not that I was up in arms about it or going to go marching down to the school to demand an apology. I just felt bad for the other kid.

 

[Scornelius]

Relax! He didn't say your kid smelled like garbage...he said it smelled like cigarettes over there. Teachers have a tough job and part of that job is making sure that their students aren't smoking. If Cam wasn't smoking...no worries.

Really? You consider that part of a highschool teacher's job? I don't see it as being any of their business at all. I'm a non-smoker, I hate the smell, but I think there are far better ways for a teacher to spend their time and energy than policing their student's habits. If we were talking about 9 years olds it might be different, but at 14 I think the teacher should stick to the curriculum.

 

[Jennasis]

When my mom was in Junior high EONS ago, a teacher called her out in the middle of class and told her she smelled. She sent her to the nurses office, and the nurse gave her a lesson in hygiene. My mom came from a very VERY poor family. While the lesson was learned and taken to heart, it traumatized my mom. From that day on she was meticulous about grooming and cleanliness and pounded it into our heads.

People do/say stupid things. In the case mentioned by the OP, I'd let it go.

 

[stashbin]

Really? You consider that part of a highschool teacher's job? I don't see it as being any of their business at all. I'm a non-smoker, I hate the smell, but I think there are far better ways for a teacher to spend their time and energy than policing their student's habits. If we were talking about 9 years olds it might be different, but at 14 I think the teacher should stick to the curriculum.

Yes it is part of their job...to protect their students from harm...even if they're harming themselves. Believe it or not, some parents either don't know or don't care what their kids are doing so I personally am glad that I have another set of eyes on my kid.
The OP is a little peeved about the approach of the teacher and maybe the teacher didn't handle the situation how she thought she should. But my point is...it's a tough job and sometimes parents (including myself) are a little touchy when it comes to our children.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Ugh...this brings back bad memeories for me! When I was in high school..mybe 15 or 16 y.o. I was in the bathroom stall going to the bathroom. I come out to see a teacher standing there(aka as Little Hitler)...she accuses me of smoking. I am actually allergic to cigarette smoke...BUT my mom is a major chain smoker. (I used to spend all my time in my roon because she smoked so much in the house.) I probably did smell of smoke...but anyway she was adamant I had been smoking...2 other girls who were in the bathroom knew me and said no she doesn't smoke. Now I don't do well with confrontations and was shocked to be perfectly honest as I DETEST smoking. Anyway I caught my breath and said I'm allergi to it and if you don't beleive me go ask my Dr....their office is across the street(which it was). She stormed off in a huff after looking at me for a few seconds.

 

[stashbin]

When my mom was in Junior high EONS ago, a teacher called her out in the middle of class and told her she smelled. She sent her to the nurses office, and the nurse gave her a lesson in hygiene. My mom came from a very VERY poor family. While the lesson was learned and taken to heart, it traumatized my mom. From that day on she was meticulous about grooming and cleanliness and pounded it into our heads.

People do/say stupid things. In the case mentioned by the OP, I'd let it go.

ITA

 

[jen0610]

DS15 has a friend whos homelife is like that. At the start of school last year, he asked if he could store some of his school clothes at our house, I told him as long as his grandparents didn't mind that it was ok. They didn't have a problem with it. Every morning, he stops by our house, changes out of the sweats and tshirt he wears over into his nicer stuff. And believe me, the stuff he wears into our house reeks!!! When they get outta school, he stops changes back into the other stuff. He also has a 2nd winter coat at our house. We fabreeze the coat he wears home, while it's at our house and I wash his sweats and t's, but there is no getting the smell outta them.

We really feel for the kid. He buys fabreeze for his room. Keeps his bedroom door shut at all times. Him and his 3 siblings all live with the grandparents, and granddad pretty much chain smokes. DS has said he has never seen him with out a cig being lit. On the rare times that they do stuff over there, DS knows that he is to take a shower as soon as he gets home. I've said something to his sister, she's a freshman this year, if she wanted to keep some stuff here, but she didn't take us up on the offer.

 

[cabanafrau]

I understand the concern aspect but I would think if that were a concern to the teacher he could have handled it much better. He could have pulled him aside and confronted him but he said that the teacher made a point to say it fairly loudly. Embarassing a kid is not going to get them fess up in front of the entire class KWIM? AND what if it were us that smoked? How would that help anything? What purpose would it serve other than to embarass the kid even more?

BTW, he didnt smell like smoke at all, I would be able to smell it a mile away.

I agree with you. My comment was only meant to be a different perspective on how to look at it. I knew you weren't screaming for the teacher's blood, just annoyed.

 

[freckles and boo]

This is not a hill to die on. The teacher could have been more discreet, but then again, you weren't there to hear exactly how loud he was. Maybe it just seemed loud because it was directed at your kid.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

This is not a hill to die on. The teacher could have been more discreet, but then again, you weren't there to hear exactly how loud he was. Maybe it just seemed loud because it was directed at your kid.

You don't die on this hill, the jerk of a teacher might, though. No way I would let this stand...

 

[boyob13]

I personally don't see how it's a problem, but that's probably I'm just overall cheerful. The teacher smelled smoke that seemed to come from your son and just asked.