Which Boarding School Is For Your Daughter?

It is no great educational secret that the genders learn differently, however it is not an exact science either! Sending your daughter away to a boarding school for troubled teens is probably the hardest decision you will ever have to make, and you want to be sure that you make the right choice. There is a great focus on boys and their learning needs in the press at the moment, as boys are falling behind girls academically.

However, although you are concerned about your daughters' academic development, her emotional development is what is causing the trouble. You need to consider what she gains, and loses from single sex education, but look at it in the context of what she is losing at the moment, if her behavior goes unchecked.

Single sex or mixed gender boarding schools for the troubled teenage girl, points to consider;

• Girls are prone to change their behavior around boys, to try and impress them, this may lead to a loss of focus on their own needs


• Many girls are math phobic and intimidated by boys ability to deal with this subject


• Girls have ADD too, but this condition is often overlooked when boys with ADD are around as they demand attention more physically than girls


• Girls tend to prefer to communicate through talking, music, dance and in a quieter environment


• Troubled girls often use sexual misbehavior to seek attention, this could be exacerbated in a mixed gender school


• Being competitive is seen as "unfeminine", a troubled teenage girl may need to channel her anger into physical and competitive activity, and succeed. She is less likely to do this if competing with boys.


• However, a highly competitive girl, and one who has bullied other girls, may need a mixed gender school to learn some humility.


• Single sex boarding schools allow girls to demonstrate leadership


• All the studies into the differences between male and female learning styles show that in every case, girls do better in a single sex environment


• A troubled teenage girl is likely to have low self-esteem, anger management issues, and poor self image; a single sex teen boarding school is far more likely to be able to address these issues in tailored counseling and achievement tasks designed to boost confidence


• Mixed gender schooling may benefit a troubled teen who has gender role model issues


• Mixed gender teen boot camps may help a disruptive girl who needs to adjust her perception of boys, and learn to behave as an equal, instead of as a sex object!

Ultimately, you, the parent know your daughter the best, despite her acting out, she is still the child you knew before her troubles. Buried deep is a girl who needs you to make the right decision for her, so ask yourself whether any of the above points apply to your daughter, before choosing a boarding school.