Ed, sixteen is an out-of-control teenager. He lives in a comfortable home in North London with his parents and younger sister but something in Ed's life is going wrong He is doing badly at school and often misses lessons. His teachers say he needs professional help but Ed refuses to see anyone. He uses drugs and alcohol regularly and he often has arguments with his parents. He also gets into trouble for stealing.
His parents cannot understand him. His mother, Sheila says, We try to discipline him but he doesn't take any notice. Everyday is a battle. We just don't know what to do.
According to Ed, I try not to spend too much time with my parents because we always have arguments. I don't get on with them end of story.
Ed's parents heard about Brat Camps in the USA. These are camps where difficult teenagers live far away from other people, in an atmosphere of strict discipline and hard word. They decided to send Ed to Turnaround Camp in the Arizona desert. Here are some of the rules:
- There is no contact with friends or family. Parents can phone and check on their children but teenagers aren't allowed to phone their parents.
- Students do all the housework as well as normal schoolwork. They have to prepare their own meals and eat together.
- Students can't have mobile phones, TV,MP3 players or computer games.
- Students have to wear camp uniform They aren't allowed to wear make-up, hair products or jewellery.
- There is strictly no bed language, smoking alcohol or drugs.
- There are no beds-students sleep outside in tents. wake-up time is 6.30a.m.
- If students break the rules they have to move to a special tent and are not allowed speak to anyone.
- If they behave well they get small rewards - they are allowed to eat cakes or watch a little tv.
- Sunday is a rest day - students don't have to work and they can talk about their problems with camp counsellors.
- Camp counsellors are with the students twenty-four hours a day as teachers friends and helpers.