Schools for Troubled Boys and Girls

The teenager that has a problem in high school, when he is fearful and angry, or may be having serious difficulties is known as a struggling teen. These boys and girls don’t pay attention to their studies and prefer other activities, such as video games or sports. They become angry very soon or may be violent at times. What is the reason for that? The main reason is that they have not fully developed their coping skills. They don’t believe in tomorrow but only believe in the present day and the present time. They don’t feel that they can get hurt by their actions. Some high schools report teens are overly worried about their physical condition and they think they are too fat or some of them think they are too thin. There are various troubled teens enrolled in private schools, who are suffering from various diseases such as: alcoholism, drug dependency, smoking, ADD/ADHD, depression, ODD, HIV/AIDS, low self esteem and running away from home. They are also in the category of struggling teens. There are some top schools for handling these struggling teens such as: boarding schools, military schools, residential schools and Christian schools which may be useful in their treatment.

A boarding school is the place where teen boys and girls are temporarily living with their peers. Boarding schools provide a facility where troubled teens live and receive high school education together. They are monitored by a group of coaches regarding all of their student activities including reading, meals and their choice of clothing. The amount of time that they live in the boarding school may be 6 months to several years. The student spends their most of their time in the boarding school. The teens that have learning disabilities, emotional and behavior problem are treated here. The individual sight of every student makes them a perfect man. The teachers involve in all their activities and get help for promoting them.

Military schools are for those struggling teens that have a low school attendance, irrespective of parents and elders, typical behavior and emotional problem. Military school can provide the most effective way for making teenagers respectable, hard working and responsible person. The school is well structured and military based institution where the struggling teens are motivated for daily exercise and physical training. The military school also helps for those troubled teens that are regularly using drugs and alcohol.

There are some schools in which the environment and atmosphere of schools are home based. The home like environment gives the teens a better way of learning and helps with behavior modification. The residential schools are beneficial for those struggling teens that are facing problems like ADD/ADHD, mental disorders, depression and drug or chemical dependence. The teens are getting therapy in a group setting and from a therapist which greatly helps teens deal directly with their problems. Parents can also help the therapists to identify the actual problems their teens are dealing with or experiencing.

Christian schools are created for those Christian families with troubled teens that may or may not be biblically oriented and their teens have bad behaviors including wearing poor clothing and rough language. Christian schools provide a Christ-centered, challenging academic program with instruction based on the Biblical view of God and the world. These schools teach, influence and encourage these boys and girls to effectively integrate the biblical truth into their daily life. They are also motivated to accept the culture of Christ.

Troubled Teens that Abundant Life Academy serves are basically good kids from good Christian families who have been hooked by a pervasive secular society, causing them to remain emotionally immature, unsatisfied, and in desperate need of redirection. 

“Today's troubled teens act as if they were 8, however they are demanding to be treated as if they were 30."   Craig Rogers , Executive Director

The answer to restoring a troubled teenager who is from a Christian family, a family who has raised this child with good morals and righteous living, is to "restore" the Christ-centered principles through a dynamic leadership approach. There is nothing wrong with this teen, only that he or she is spoiled, entitled, and ungrateful. This teen lacks any "Christ-like" perspective. These children have been provided everything; safety, security, and plentiful resources. The problem is that they have never had to work for it… everything has always been provided. These adolescents have no idea of the hard work or sacrifice that their parents have had to go through in order to give these provisions to them. These kids live in the "now", always thinking about themselves, dissatisfied, empty, and demanding more. These troubled teens think that the world revolves around them and that they deserve what they seek without contributing to effort.

Abundant Life Academy is an early-intervention school for good kids from good Christian families. The typical ALA student is a gifted teen, yet is academically unmotivated. These troubled boys and girls are also rejecting their parent's Christian values and are now attracted to the excitement of secular traps. These teenagers are beginning to connect with the wrong crowd and need an early intervention, to re-establish the importance of spiritual and academic pursuits.