Should Troubled Teens Be Sent To Private School?

So you've finally decided to send your troubled teen to a private school. As your teens may say, what's the 411? If you think this is the cure-all solution to every folly your child has gotten into, then we're sorry to burst your bubble - it may not be a good idea. That is, you should send your child to a private school only if it is going to benefit him, not you.

Many parents decide that secluding their child in this type of school will allow them to do better and avoid the problems that teens face. Yet, what you do not know is that they are probably going to face then anyway.

Hey, you too were teenagers, and the '70s and '80s were still far removed from the Leave it to Beaver era. These are obviously distractions to today's teens (as most of them were in your heyday), and maybe the best thing to do would be for you to tackle these problems head-on and determine whether the educational system is right or not.

When Is The Right Time?

To know when your child may be better off in a private school, ask yourself these questions:

Ask yourself whether the school they are currently attending is providing the right level of academics they rightfully need and deserve.

Have you already had a heart-to-heart talk with your teen about peer pressure, but still feel that their present environment is nevertheless too dangerous for comfort?

Will your child react that this private school is a punishment or will you try to explain to them that this will help them to become a better student?

Ask yourself whether the private school can be considered a stronghold of academics and discipline, or if it's a quasi-reform school that lets kids run wild and free.

Would you still be committed to being the first person your teens turn to when they run into trouble, even if they're several miles away?

Ask yourself what really is your motivation for sending your kids off to private school. Is this realistic?

Do not make knee-jerk decisions when it comes to deciding whether your child needs private school or not. In most cases, they will still be faced with all the temptations that other teens are. Talk this over with the people who matter, not the least your children, and you can be assured of making the right choice.