Preparing Teens for Adulthood

* The edition of May 25 carried a story on the need for a new gym in El Rio to combat gang crime. In the main section of the same paper was a feature on the machinist shortage.

These articles represent a problem followed by a solution. The idea of providing facilities to keep young people occupied to reduce antisocial behavior is good. However, many of these teenagers are nearly adults, and we need to do more than provide a place to play basketball.

These young people need job training. Why not build the facility to train them in occupational skills? It takes years to become a master machinist: Give them a start towards a career with a good paycheck.

For those youngsters who wish to play sports, we should keep the present gymnasium facilities in our schools open into the evening hours; let the schools be the community hub. But for the teens interested in more than play, provide solid job training in skills needed by employers in Southern California.

We tell our youth they must sit in the high school classroom until they are 18, teaching them subjects for which they see no use or need. They are often not interested. But put them in a work environment, teach them real skills, then supplement with the math and English needed to do the job right and they will respond and learn. Treat them like the adults they are; our community will be well-rewarded.

HELENE BURKHOLDER

Oxnard