The Problem With Schools - Troubled Teens Don"t Make Progress
Parents of at-risk students will often tell you that there's a major problem with most public schools.
Troubled teens don't always receive the special attention, support and programming they need to put their lives on track.
Even though school is the primary social experience for children and a place in which they often spend a very significant percentage of their time, it's also a context nearly devoid of services that could spur a positive change in their lives.
While this deficiency is frustrating, it's certainly understandable.
The average school is built with the average child in mind.
While some outreach to certain groups with special needs is mandated, it's unrealistic to expect schools to be capable of handling the specific needs of every at-risk teenager.
Public school faculty members are professionally-trained educators, but they're not credentialed therapists.
The professionals that schools may have on staff to deal with counseling and related issues are often stretched dangerously thin with large case loads and limited resources are a problem at many schools.
Troubled teens may not get what they need, but the problem is structural.
It's not the byproduct of apathy or a lack of caring.
This contributes to an already-challenging situation.
Parents who are doing everything they can to help their struggling son or daughter often feel as if their serious efforts are being erased when the student returns to a school setting in which they're not receiving additional support and in which they're being exposed to peer and social pressures.
It's a location where bad habits flourish and where frustrations can mount.
This is a chief reason why we're witnessing remarkable growth in therapeutic boarding schools.
These schools are designed specifically for at-risk teens and have staff and faculties who are trained to help with their students' problems.
These schools are organized with the goal of helping children in mind.
Often, parents find that the extra support and change of environment can combine to produce real and lasting positive change for their children.
It may not be realistic to expect the necessary support services to help a struggling teenager at most schools.
Troubled teens do have other options, though.
Therapeutic boarding schools may be the best way ot meet both the academic and personal needs of at-risk students.
Troubled teens don't always receive the special attention, support and programming they need to put their lives on track.
Even though school is the primary social experience for children and a place in which they often spend a very significant percentage of their time, it's also a context nearly devoid of services that could spur a positive change in their lives.
While this deficiency is frustrating, it's certainly understandable.
The average school is built with the average child in mind.
While some outreach to certain groups with special needs is mandated, it's unrealistic to expect schools to be capable of handling the specific needs of every at-risk teenager.
Public school faculty members are professionally-trained educators, but they're not credentialed therapists.
The professionals that schools may have on staff to deal with counseling and related issues are often stretched dangerously thin with large case loads and limited resources are a problem at many schools.
Troubled teens may not get what they need, but the problem is structural.
It's not the byproduct of apathy or a lack of caring.
This contributes to an already-challenging situation.
Parents who are doing everything they can to help their struggling son or daughter often feel as if their serious efforts are being erased when the student returns to a school setting in which they're not receiving additional support and in which they're being exposed to peer and social pressures.
It's a location where bad habits flourish and where frustrations can mount.
This is a chief reason why we're witnessing remarkable growth in therapeutic boarding schools.
These schools are designed specifically for at-risk teens and have staff and faculties who are trained to help with their students' problems.
These schools are organized with the goal of helping children in mind.
Often, parents find that the extra support and change of environment can combine to produce real and lasting positive change for their children.
It may not be realistic to expect the necessary support services to help a struggling teenager at most schools.
Troubled teens do have other options, though.
Therapeutic boarding schools may be the best way ot meet both the academic and personal needs of at-risk students.
