Preschool’s Only Fault Was Caring : Church’s view of child care leads to eviction of Santa Clarita Valley Learning Center

“Rooms Wanted. Occasionally boisterous tenant (except during nap time).”

Just such an ad might be seen in the classified sections by the end of next year, unless someone or some group is willing to offer sufficient space and hospitality to the Santa Clarita Valley Learning Center. This preschool/ day-care center is being evicted by the Placerita church from which it has leased space for the past three years. It is being evicted for being exactly what it is . . . a preschool that has a secondary role as a day-care center.

“The responsibility for the care of children from the biblical mandate is very clear, and that is that it belongs to the family,” said the chairman of the all-male Baptist church committee that decided against renewing the Learning Center’s lease.

The chairman added that the church is seeking a new pastor and was afraid of being rejected by likely applicants because “there are men . . . who would not be able to accept the pulpit at this church because of the preschool.”

This means that the church feels that the children ought to be at home with one of their parents. We wonder how they feel about pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and other early elementary school classes since those too amount to the kind of third-party child care to which the church seems to object.

We should note here that the 1.5-million-member Baptist churches in the United States adopted a resolution five years ago that presents a far different stance, encouraging church-run day-care centers.

Obviously, the Placerita church is within its rights as to whether it will lease its free space to some group or organization. But Santa Clarita’s needs--and the nation’s--have moved sharply in the opposite direction. Finding reputable child-care options in Santa Clarita is quite difficult for the many working parents there, and most licensed programs have long waiting lists.

Even in stable, two-parent households, the American Dream now requires two wage earners. Moreover, about 60% of all women with children age 5 and under now work outside the home, as do 80% of the mothers of older children. The U.S. Census Bureau also reports that the conventional model of American family life--a married couple with children and a stable home--is on the verge of becoming the exception rather than the rule. And one out of every four children now lives with a single parent.

That is the reality, and day-care and preschool options have never been more important as a result. The Santa Clarita Valley Learning Center fulfills such a role, and it deserves a landlord that understands that need. Any takers?