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