Many parents who have an only one child are not willing to send their child to a boarding school style facility. Instead, they choose to take their disturbed teen to a troubled teens alternative school. Usually, troubled teens alternative schools are day schools. The troubled teen lives in a highly structured school during the day and then returns home at night. There are also residential type alternative schools available, which are rare in number.
Alternative schools cater for teenagers who do not fit into mainstream educational institutions. They provide chances for out-of-control teenagers to change their behaviors and get back on track. Alternative schools also facilitate the change of students from other treatment programs into traditional education, by bringing these students up to date academically.
There are a number of other reasons for a parent to choose an alternative school for their child. Most parents often think that their kids are put at a risk and will face negative experiences in the public school classrooms. Alternative schools involve the entire family in their activities and each member of the family will have options to make in arranging the family calendar. This participation is increased gradually and progressively as the parents find that they are not only intellectually enthused, but may feel overwhelmed too.
The community of troubled teen alternative schools is widely distributed. The teenagers come from a variety of parents who have different viewpoints of learning. In addition to academics, alternative schools offer a variety of programs to help troubled teens, including athletics, personal development courses, emotional growth sessions, daily responsibilities and duties, therapeutic treatments, and counseling sections. Alternative schooling provides a peaceful, restorative quality to a troubled teen?s life and self-esteem. It usually contains a well-stated philosophy and mission and the parents should understand and agree with these.
Alternative schools may be a feasible option for teens who are just different. However, they are not suitable for teenagers who have serious behavioral problems that are exacerbated by relationships with compeers. Often, these teenagers show progress during the day, but enter into negative behaviors when they spend evenings with friends. Therefore choosing an alternative school for troubled teens needs a very close and careful look.
