Given that nobody here knows the history of the boys concerned, or the experiences/lives they may have led that have pushed them "off" the rails - I don't feel we are really in a position to judge or comment.
A good point, well made James, but I feel the problem is that people are always very quick to blame bad behaviour on some outside influence and to talk about outside influences having an effect on behaviour.
If you teach a baby that you will give them a treat each time they cry then they will cry often. If you teach an older infant that each time they misbehave they will be lavished with positive attention then they will misbehave often. By the time they reach teenage years they don't have the concept of disciplined behaviour. If you then reinforce that ill discipline by continuing not to confront bad behaviour in a robust manner then, I'm afraid, you will continue to get bad behaviour whenever they want to be noticed.
On the other hand, if bad behaviour is punished and dealt with vigorously then you have a chance of gradually changing that behaviour.
Only my opinion but I have fostered around 15 - 20 teenagers over the past 8 years. Most of them with 'challenging' behaviour. What most of them, and it is important not to stereotype, need and crave are clearly defined ground rules and consequences for poor behaviour along positive consequences for good behaviour.
