| July 24th, 2006 ,Teenage rebellion can | | | | girl's boarding schools, where girls |
| be a sign of health, especially in | | | | live in a girl-centered world 24/7. Many |
| girls. In an essay contributed to | | | | parents find that boarding schools give |
| Catching a Wave: Reclaiming Feminism for | | | | their daughters a more positive set of |
| the 21st Century, Nancy Gruver has | | | | peers, so that peer pressure work for |
| written that girls are understandably | | | | girls, instead of against them. Instead |
| outraged by injustices. However, the | | | | of feeling pressure to experiment with |
| process of socialization teaches girls | | | | sex and drugs, girls feel challenged to |
| to swallow their healthy anger. | | | | be the best they can be. |
| Unfortunately, then, the anger that | | | | For many parents finding out that their |
| could fuel needed change in our society | | | | son or daughter has been struggling with |
| is misspent. It gets turned inward as | | | | teen drug abuse is a catastrophic |
| self-destructive choices, or girls | | | | revelation. Thoughts of failure, |
| express it, ineffectively, in blind | | | | disappointment, guilt, and embarrassment |
| rebellion. | | | | flood a parents mind. However, you must |
| Girls who are troubled are often the | | | | remember that you are not the only |
| brightest and most sensitive. They | | | | parent to face such a situation. And |
| either learn too well what society seems | | | | more importantly, many families have |
| to want from them (such as sexual | | | | overcome teen drug abuse in the past. |
| precociousness or underachievement) or | | | | Many of them itself creates ideal |
| they simply refuse to go along with the | | | | conditions for the development of |
| unfairness. These girls challenge us to | | | | troubled teens, because it have proven |
| find healthier ways to educate them to | | | | that such teenagers have underdeveloped |
| be contributors to a more just society. | | | | front part of the main brain, which |
| Exhausted parents are torn between | | | | makes it difficult for them to determine |
| advocating for their girls and wishing | | | | right from wrong. Many believe that |
| their girls would "just go along and get | | | | troubled teens are product of the |
| along" in school settings that trample | | | | society they live in. But as it was |
| their self-esteem. While a family's love | | | | already mentioned, it is most likely a |
| and concern can do much to build | | | | combination of reasons that make teens |
| resiliency in their girls, no single | | | | troubled. |
| family is strong enough to protect its | | | | I realize it is not easy to deal with |
| daughters from the effects of a | | | | the fear of the unknown, however |
| "girl-poisoning" culture. If only we | | | | sometimes the fear can be worse than the |
| could train girls to use their energies | | | | situation. If you have trouble managing |
| to correct injustice in the world, | | | | your anxiety of the future, then go to: |
| rather than being self-destructive. | | | | Abundantlifeacademy It is a school for |
| We can. One way to do that is to educate | | | | troubled teens that have a great deal of |
| girls in an environment prepared | | | | academic potential and a good heart, yet |
| especially to focus on girls - their | | | | they are currently off track, lost, and |
| needs, development, strengths and | | | | wandering in the desert (selfish, |
| talents, and the way they learn. Girls | | | | ungrateful, and lazy)... in need of |
| boarding schools is just this type of | | | | immediate infusion of God's precious |
| environment | | | | Spirit and a restored relationship with |
| For instance, one girl was used to | | | | Jesus Christ (selfless, thankful, and |
| hearing boys yell, "Cat fight!" whenever | | | | motivated to excel). |
| girls disagreed with each other in | | | | They can be of great help. This site is |
| class. When she transferred to an | | | | a comprehensive directory or Resources |
| all-girls school, she found that girls | | | | for Troubled Teens and their families. |
| were encouraged to debate, to speak | | | | If you are looking for more information |
| their minds, and think through their | | | | on troubled teens, whether you are a |
| opinions. No longer shut down by the | | | | parent of a troubled teen, an |
| boys' teasing (which went on right in | | | | educational consultant, or a |
| front of teachers) she developed her | | | | professional who serves the needs of |
| thinking and communication skills. | | | | troubled teens. |
| This effect is strengthened even more in | | | | |