Troubled Teens Resources

You would think that a student who reported sexual abuse by a teacher would not be the recipient of her peers’ and teachers’ contempt and disdain. You would expect that the school would fire said teacher and make amends to her family. But apparently some teachers protect their own. That is what one family discovered after reporting a music teacher’s sexual advances.

“It’s a silent epidemic is what it is,” the girl’s father says. “People are protecting people who aren’t worth protecting. I hope our daughters will have that instilled in them, too — that you report what you know.”

Their daughter finished her education in private boarding schools, unable to endure the backlash her report unleashed.

“Immediately after news of Sperlik’s arrest hit in January 2005, people began questioning the girls’ motives: Why didn’t they come forward sooner? Were they really telling the truth?

Some think their parents simply want money from a lawsuit.
[…]
It was almost too much for the girl, who never anticipated such harsh public scrutiny.”

The troubled teenager dyed her hair black and began a ritual often associated with sexual abuse - cutting. Finally, an attempted suicide landed her in a psychiatric hospital.

“I just can’t take it anymore,” she wrote in a note to her parents.

(source)

And neither should parents. Read the article in full and understand that it must be parents who protect their teens’ best interest. Recent reports on sexual abuse perpetrated by teachers, like the one quoted, suggest that all to often, some in the teaching profession are far more interested in protecting their own.

Private boarding schools tend to produce different students than the public school system produces. Of course, much depends on the curriculum and the governing philosophy of the schools. Some progressive schools churn out many youths totally unequipped to deal with the realities of adult life, but quite suited for a career in Hollywood

On the other hand, those private and specialty schools that have a more traditional approach to education and youth turn out teenagers who are ready to take the next steps into responsible adulthood. Established and reputable troubled teen boarding schools are very intentional about turning out mature, self-directing teens.

Unfortunately,studies indicate that millions of teens entering their twenties are mentally still in high school.

“I think the early 20s are the new teenage years,” says Rea, 26, a college student studying to be a history teacher. “There are no parents telling them, ‘You can’t do this.’ It’s pretty much a free-for-all.”

That statement points to the gist of the problem. A twenty year old shouldn’t need a parent telling them that something is dangerous. The educational system is supposed to be training kids to a level of maturity that would make destructive drinking and drugging in college unacceptable.

In fact, there was a time when a teen would never take so lightly what a college education represents. Now it has largely become an excuse to extend the high school prom.

American society has taken great pains to prevent adolescents from the perils of foolhardy behavior, from zero-tolerance alcohol and drug programs to graduated drivers’ licenses to city curfews for youths, Mintz says.

If teens make mistakes, they often get a second chance. But in their 20s, society is less forgiving.

“It’s the 20s that are risky,” he says.”

(source)

Girls boarding schools can go a long way towards helping a teenage girl develop an identity free from the current idolization of the frivolous and destructive lifestyles exhibited by the current crop of celebrity teens. It isn’t as if a young teens entering private boarding schools are cut off from all outside influences. Far from the case, but for many teenage girls it is the first time that they are exposed to possibilities for young women shed of all the pop culture hype. And perhaps the first time that they are given an opportunity to think of themselves in terms of their intellect and skills, not their looks or other superficial measures.

Talking about teenage girls and depression, Julie Danielson, a counselor at a California high school, makes a very striking statement. Striking in that it is not said enough.I have put it in bold.

“One of the biggest problems Danielson deals with is relationships in which, often, one person (usually the girl) becomes co-dependent on the other.

“I have seen girls become so despondent they want to hurt themselves,” she said.

She noted that she also comes across teenagers who are “looking for love in all the wrong places” and believe happiness can be achieved by having sex.

“One of the biggest problems Danielson deals with is relationships in which, often, one person (usually the girl) becomes co-dependent on the other.

“I have seen girls become so despondent they want to hurt themselves,” she said.

She noted that she also comes across teenagers who are “looking for love in all the wrong places” and believe happiness can be achieved by having sex.

“In all my years, I’ve never had a girl come to me and say, ‘I’m so glad I had sex in high school,’” she said.

“There’s a lot of pressure to have sex, but it’s not always the answer to having a good time in high school. Sometimes, it can be the opposite,” she added.”
(Source)

Teen boarding schools, specialty schools and brat camps are not a last resort. More and more parents are moving their teens out of the public school system and separating them from an increasingly corrosive culture perpetuated by the media and the corporations who stand to profit from the teenage demographic.

“According to the most recent report by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), private schools have enjoyed a steady increase in enrollment, climbing by 18 percent between 1988 and 2001 — and enrollment rates are expected to continue to rise by at least another 7 percent by 2013! Public school enrollment rose by about the same rate (19 percent) but is expected to continue to rise by only 4 percent.”

Besides superior academics, private boarding schools act as a powerful antidote to the destructive chatter, rap and hip hop that streams from teenagers iPods, MySpace and other cultural reenforcers of destructive life styles.

when you read accounts like the following, you can only wonder what parents can do when, by all appearances, their teenager seems to be doing well. Could the values and discipline that boarding schools bring to the table have made a difference?

“Attractive, vivacious, somewhat irreverent and full of spirit and talent. All these are attributes friends and family gleaned from 17-year-old Tracey.
[..]
But on Easter Sunday in 2004, that determination was snuffed out. Tracey died of a heroin overdose. Her death was hard on family members, but what shocked them even more was that Tracey had begun her addictive odyssey way before anyone ever knew.
[..]
Tracey’s now just a memory. Her mother keeps some of her ashes in a heart-shaped locket around her neck.

“This is not where your parents want you to be, around their neck in a piece of jewelry. They would rather have your arms around their neck, hugging them,” Faye said.

Tracey would have turned 21 this year if she had lived. Her mother now speaks to adult groups and schools about teen prescription drug abuse as often as she can.”

(Source)

Private boarding schools, brat camps and schools for troubled teens can probably all take a bit of credit for the recently released optimistic report on teen age drug abuse. They, along with thousands of community led efforts across America have been waging a seemingly endless battle to protect teens at risk for addiction, pregnancies, academic failure and criminal behavior. The report, issued in December, goes over the latest statistics from the “drug czars”.

“There has been a substance abuse sea change among American teens,” said John P. Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy. “They are getting the message that dangerous drugs damage their lives and limit their futures. We know that if people don’t start using drugs during their teen years, they are very unlikely to go on to develop drug problems later in life. That’s why this sharp decline in teen drug use is such important news: It means that there will be less addiction, less suffering, less crime, lower health costs, and higher achievement for this upcoming generation of Americans.”

Keep up the good work, but don’t let up. There are active online campaigns to keep your teen tempted. A teenager is quoted as admonishing parents for not keeping up-to-date on the latest pro-drug propaganda throughout the web. It is a wise caution to heed.

“Teens report that their parents seldom stay current with the threats posed by pro-drug sources of misinformation, such as Internet content that normalizes and trivializes drug use. Parents need to keep talking to their kids about the dangers of drug use and stay on top of current technologies that could pose additional risks to their teens’ health and safety.”

(Source)

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder varies in intensity and attendant impairment with each diagnosis. Some teenagers are able to manage getting a handle on their ADD symptoms before the usual problems with ADD escalate into anything worse.

However, some children remain undiagnosed and emerge as the stereotypical troubled teenager, beset by behavioral problems, drug abuse, and lost time in school.

Fortunately there are youth camps as well as troubled teen boarding schools that offer a whole constellation of programs and therapies for the at risk ADD teenager.

“Camp Avanti in Hudson is designed for children coping with learning and neurological disorders such as attention-deficit disorder, autism and Asperger’s disorder, which is a high-functioning form of autism. The activities are designed to build confidence, coordination and camaraderie.

“It’s just the best camp ever,” said Joan Soward, of River Falls, Wis. Her son, Nick, 10, completed his fourth camp this weekend, and his brother Michael, 6, completed his first. Both boys have sensory integration problems.

“When they come here, they are accepted for who they are,” Soward said. “Outside here, other kids look at them like they aren’t quite right. But here they fit in.”

(Source)

“Fit in.” Two simple very telling words. So many parents complain that once their teen was labelled “special needs” after diagnosis, fitting in was no longer an option. Public education was never meant to deal with teenage problems and though they do they best, many parent find private boarding schools offers the best choice for their troubled teen.

Private boarding schools, military boarding schools and troubled teen boarding schools teachers are quite familiar with the principles and lessons taught in a program that is making it’s appearance in various communities known as “Character Counts.” The private school’s typical emphasis on responsibility, accountability and respect that go towards forming good character have long set apart the private educational institution from the public schools.

In those schools dedicated to transforming a troubled teen’s life, the principles, or “6 Pillars of Trust”, espoused by the “Character Counts” program are integral and evident in their entire approach to education.

Here are the “Six Pillars” and more info can be found at the link below.

• Trustworthiness
  Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends and country
• Respect
  Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements
• Responsibility
  Do what you are supposed to do • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your choices
• Fairness
  Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly
• Caring
  Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need
• Citizenship
  Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment

(Source)

Troubled teenagers at risk for commiting violent crimes today seem increasingly to be girls. Perhaps you are aware of the spate of reported beatings and assaults by girls that have recently surfaced in the news.

“In just a year, Schenectady County saw criminal complaints involving girls double in 2006 to 162. That exceeds national statistics compiled by the FBI that also show more arrests of girls. From 1980 to 2003, arrests of teenage girls for aggravated assault rose 9 percent, while simple assault counts increased some 11 percent, according to that agency’s Violent Crime Index.”

This has professionals grasping for ways to handle the influx of teen girls, necessitating reviews of current procedures and the development of behavioral approaches that experts deem necessary, citing that the differences between out of control teen girls and their male counterparts demand new tools and evaluative processes.

“All of a sudden you have a justice system dealing with more and more girls and they don’t know what to do with them,” said Shari Miller Johnson, a Duke University researcher. “Girls’ dynamics are difficult to maneuver, and we still don’t know to what extent what we know about boys applies to girls.”

As is often the case, alternative education is a viable option, such as troubled teen boarding schools or private boarding schools. Behavioral problems don’t just simply go away, but often devolve into teen age drug abuse. Alternative education may seem overwhelming when first contemplated, but can save the troubled teen a lifetime of heartache.

“Jessica, a 17-year-old who ended up in the probation system for fighting, landed at St. Anne Institute, a residential home in Albany for troubled girls. She fought so much on her arrival in May 2006 that she ended up in a special unit. Through counseling, she is managing to control her anger and is expected to leave St. Anne in August.

“When you don’t have that right guidance from parents or adults, you really don’t know which way to go sometimes so you just go the way you know and for me that was fighting and getting upset and expressing myself through fighting,” Jessica said.”

(Source)

Many parents are fatalistically discouraged before they even start searching for a troubled teen boarding school. Even though recent statistics say that teen age drug abuse has undergone some decreasing numbers, there are simultaneous reports predicting a new wave of cheap variations of heroin and meth flooding the country.

Statistics do not matter, in the end, to the parent of a troubled teen. They just want to hear that sometimes it works out. They want to hear that even though their kid fell, and fell hard, that they can justifiably believe in his recovery.

The fact of the matter is, that is true. Year after year, private boarding schools, military schools and wilderness therapy programs turn kids around, perhaps advancing them further than had they never had a drug problem. Because schools that specialize in addicted and problem teens teach skills and provide cognitive training and critical thinking that public schools do not provide, putting them in a superior position in navigating future challenges.

Psychology Today has an interesting article suggesting that the popular media rendering of the addict is misleading and pessimistic.

“…this fatalistic thinking about addiction doesn’t jibe with the facts. More people overcome addictions than do not. And the vast majority do so without therapy. Quitting may take several tries, and people may not stop smoking, drinking or using drugs altogether. But eventually they succeed in shaking dependence.”

A parent should approach the selection of a troubled teen boarding school with the confidence and anticipation that their teen will resume living a constructive and fulfilling life, all the stronger for having met his enemy head on and walked away the victor.