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Boarding Schools – A Lifeline for Troubled Teens

Boarding schools have been traditionally regarded as institutions that cater to the needs of troubled teens, or children who come from troubled families. They were, and still are being regarded as places where struggling teenagers are disciplined to conform with what society considers as acceptable behavior. But these days, boarding schools have evolved into an entirely different concept. Times have changed, even good teens who come from normal, happy families can already pursue their studies in boarding schools and turn out to be better individuals. They have now earned the reputation of moulding teenagers to become independent, responsible, self-motivated, and well-rounded individuals capable of making practical decisions in life.

Even though times have changed, and boarding schools are equipped for all types of students coming from various types of family backgrounds, there are still boarding schools specifically designed for troubled teenagers.

Such types of boarding schools help teenagers to deal with a multitude of problems such as drug abuse, stress, depression, conduct disorders, teen pregnancy, eating disorders, obesity, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), oppositional defiant disorders, learning disabilities, violence, and other complex issues of troubled adolescents. The school provides focused attention on the teen’s emotional, behavioral, and academic problems in a safe and structured environment. They employ a lot of techniques like therapeutic programs to enable the child to resolve conflicts through therapy or counseling, personality development workshops and creative activities that emphasize positive attitude, and personal responsibility.

Boarding schools keep teenagers away from negative influences in their immediate environment and make them realize that here are other teens with similar problems. These boarding schools encourage activities to keep the teens preoccupied while teaching them how to live a better life and learn how their behavior and decisions impact their lives. With ample support from family and faculty counseling, a troubled teen’s life can be turned around for the better.

Boarding schools for troubled teens have specialized programs that may last from a few weeks or months to a few years, depending on the teen’s needs. They offer more attention to teenagers by maintaining a small student-teacher ratio, as well as an environment where teenagers can feel uninhibited to express their true emotions. They will be under the supervision of trained specialists who will be able to help them resolve their conflicts in an open and amiable manner.

When looking for an appropriate boarding school for a troubled teenager, take into account the style of program they use, field of specialty, facilities, faculty members, academic requirements, support services like counseling and therapeutic activities that are compatible with the teen’s personality and their particular set of issues. If academic failure is the problem, then a school that focuses on academic excellence with tutoring services may be the likely choice. On the other hand, teenagers who are dealing with complex issues like behaviortal problems and substance abuse, therapeutically oriented schools may be more appropriate.

Helping troubled teens develop skills to deal with their own problems

Some of the most popular solutions for “troubled teens” are boot camps or school discipline. However, several criticisms of this solution have come forward in the last few years. In addition, new data shows that there are effective treatment programs that avoid the pitfalls of boot camps and the twin revolving doors of school discipline or the justice system.

One of the leading critics of boot camps says they are becoming outdated because they handle struggling teens “in ways that don’t address their true difficulties.” Ross Greene is a psychologist and author of the recently published Lost at School: Why Our Kids With Behavioral Challenges Are Falling Through the Cracks and How We Can Help Them. Ross notes that many schools are still focused on disciplining teens when what they need to do is identify and deal with the lagging skills that cause teens to fall into trouble.

Greene argues, “Well-behaved students aren’t behaving themselves because of the school discipline program. They’re behaving themselves because they have the skills to handle life’s challenges in an adaptive way.” According to Ross, “We’re losing a lot of kids and a lot of teachers because we still view challenging kids the wrong way. It’s an exercise in frustration for everyone involved.

“In other words, these kids have a development delay, a learning disability of sorts… in the same way that kids who are delayed in reading are having difficulty mastering the skills required for becoming proficient in reading, challenging kids are having difficulty mastering the skills required for becoming proficient in handling life’s social, emotional, and behavioral challenges.”

In discussing the popular option of “boot camps for troubled teens,” Dr. Edward Latessa essentially echoes Greene in decrying a root problem with these: their focus on discipline over treatment and rehabilitation.

Latessa writes, “What are they teaching you in boot camp? Drills, ceremony, discipline, how to say yes sir, no sir. Well the problem is that’s not related to delinquent behavior.” Latessa counters that good programs focus on behaviors, attitudes and coping skills that help students face and deal with real world problems. Today’s successful treatment programs focus on practical skills as simple and straightforward as how to avoid risky situations and negative friends and remaining assertive with peers intent on leading them astray.

“If teens practice these skills then they have the ability to deal with situations when they get into them. Good programs teach those things and they do it in a way that it is modeled, practiced, and reinforced.”

Indeed, a recent study backs up his claims. Treatment programs that focus on behavior and attitudes and are properly licensed have documented success. The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSP) surveyed 1027 adolescents within a year after discharge from one of its member programs. Analysis showed that “adolescent problems improve significantly during private residential treatment and that, with only a few exceptions, discharge functioning and in-treatment change are relatively similar, regardless of adolescent background, history, problems, and treatment factors.”

In order to be a member of NATSP, treatment programs must be “licensed by the appropriate state agency authorized to set and oversee standards of therapeutic and/or behavioral healthcare for youth and adolescents” or the program must be “accredited by a nationally recognized behavioral health accreditation agency.” In addition, its therapeutic services must have “oversight by a qualified clinician.”

Changing behaviors and attitudes is the key to helping teens deal with their own troubles, far more effective than discipline imposed by any outside agent. Today’s effective programs are focused on attitude changes and bestowing practical skills so teens avoid trouble. As Gordon Hay of Venture Academy, a school and summer camp for troubled teens in Ontario, says, “Boot camps are heading toward extinction.”