WASHINGTON COUNTY, TN -- A Tennessee child was repeatedly sent home from school for smelling bad, but her mother says the eight-year-old is clean.
"They just say it's a foul odor," said Krystal Hensley the child's mother, "She's been to the doctor and it's not a medical problem."
"They send her home at least once a month, I mean, you go to school to learn, not to be sent home. She takes a bath everyday, but they ask her when the last time she took a bath is and she don't remember," Hensley continued.
According to several documents by Hensley, the school system says this student's smell is disruptive. So bad in fact, that other students and teachers complain about it, saying they cannot focus on school. The school has warned since October, if corrective measures are not taken, the suspensions will continue, and they have. The girl has spent at least 24 school days at home.
The director of schools wouldn't talk specifically about this student. But Ron Dykes says, generally when a child is sent home, it's a rare and extreme situation. There are times when the Department of Children Services is called, but Dykes says usually after talking with the parents, the school tries to resolve it by searching for money or an agency to help.
Hensley says Department of Children Services was contacted, but the case was closed.
"She makes good grades, stated Hensley, "I mean, that's not the problem, problem is you can't learn if you're not at school."
"They just say it's a foul odor," said Krystal Hensley the child's mother, "She's been to the doctor and it's not a medical problem."
"They send her home at least once a month, I mean, you go to school to learn, not to be sent home. She takes a bath everyday, but they ask her when the last time she took a bath is and she don't remember," Hensley continued.
According to several documents by Hensley, the school system says this student's smell is disruptive. So bad in fact, that other students and teachers complain about it, saying they cannot focus on school. The school has warned since October, if corrective measures are not taken, the suspensions will continue, and they have. The girl has spent at least 24 school days at home.
The director of schools wouldn't talk specifically about this student. But Ron Dykes says, generally when a child is sent home, it's a rare and extreme situation. There are times when the Department of Children Services is called, but Dykes says usually after talking with the parents, the school tries to resolve it by searching for money or an agency to help.
Hensley says Department of Children Services was contacted, but the case was closed.
"She makes good grades, stated Hensley, "I mean, that's not the problem, problem is you can't learn if you're not at school."
