Five Reasons a Christian Boarding School Can Produce Real Change For Troubled Teens
Many families are utilizing religious boarding schools as a way of providing help for troubled teens.
They see these schools as a great way to provide at-risk teens with a way to turn their lives around and to experience significant self-improvement opportunities.
What does a Christian boarding school offer that makes it so much different than alternatives? First, these schools are designed with troubled teens in mind.
In traditional educational settings, these students can pose a seemingly insurmountable challenge because the systems simply aren't set up to deal with the unique problems of at-risk kids.
In a Christian school setting, however, the faculty and staff have extensive experience in helping students to make positive life changes.
They understand what's happening to these kids and how to deal with the situation.
Second, a Christian boarding school can provide a safe setting for the student to grow and change.
Making a major alteration in one's life course is always difficult.
Trying to do it within an existing environment can be all but impossible.
By moving the child into a different, positive and safe environment, the student can explore better ways to live and to behave.
Third, many programs designed to help at-risk kids are relatively short in length and rely almost exclusively on behavior modification techniques.
They construct an artifice of rules, rewards and punishments to influence behavior.
The participants quickly adjust to the rules, making superficial changes in order to "get by", while never really addressing the core causes of their problems.
In a Christ-centered school environment, it's possible to look into root causes more deeply and to create lasting changes on a personal level instead of merely engaging in temporary "re-training".
Fourth, students can benefit from being around others who share some of the same problems and who are facing similar challenges.
Many at-risk children feel very alone and that sense of isolation makes it difficult for them to see a "way out".
When students realize they're not alone, it can be comforting and liberating.
Fifth, Christian families often find that the spiritual component of a Christian boarding school can make a great deal of difference for their troubled teens.
By taking a broader and more meaningful perspective on the world and the student's relationship with God, it's possible to produce genuine, transformative change.
They see these schools as a great way to provide at-risk teens with a way to turn their lives around and to experience significant self-improvement opportunities.
What does a Christian boarding school offer that makes it so much different than alternatives? First, these schools are designed with troubled teens in mind.
In traditional educational settings, these students can pose a seemingly insurmountable challenge because the systems simply aren't set up to deal with the unique problems of at-risk kids.
In a Christian school setting, however, the faculty and staff have extensive experience in helping students to make positive life changes.
They understand what's happening to these kids and how to deal with the situation.
Second, a Christian boarding school can provide a safe setting for the student to grow and change.
Making a major alteration in one's life course is always difficult.
Trying to do it within an existing environment can be all but impossible.
By moving the child into a different, positive and safe environment, the student can explore better ways to live and to behave.
Third, many programs designed to help at-risk kids are relatively short in length and rely almost exclusively on behavior modification techniques.
They construct an artifice of rules, rewards and punishments to influence behavior.
The participants quickly adjust to the rules, making superficial changes in order to "get by", while never really addressing the core causes of their problems.
In a Christ-centered school environment, it's possible to look into root causes more deeply and to create lasting changes on a personal level instead of merely engaging in temporary "re-training".
Fourth, students can benefit from being around others who share some of the same problems and who are facing similar challenges.
Many at-risk children feel very alone and that sense of isolation makes it difficult for them to see a "way out".
When students realize they're not alone, it can be comforting and liberating.
Fifth, Christian families often find that the spiritual component of a Christian boarding school can make a great deal of difference for their troubled teens.
By taking a broader and more meaningful perspective on the world and the student's relationship with God, it's possible to produce genuine, transformative change.
