Back Off the Kids Next Door

Parents naturally would worry if a program for troubled teenagers moved next to their children’s preschool. So of course the folks whose kids attend Christian Montessori Academy at the former El Toro air base are asking tough questions about the new school next door, the one for middle- and high-schoolers who have run afoul of the law.

But parents are going too far by demanding that the Navy evict the teen probation program or that Orange County relocate it. While the fate of El Toro churns slowly through the system, the expanse of base land and the buildings still standing provide a boon to a county that needs some extra space -- for both preschoolers and teens with different lessons to learn.

The county-run probation program -- with 15 teens and capacity to grow to 75 -- isn’t anything like a juvenile detention center. The youngsters who attend the program are first-time offenders who have committed nonviolent misdeeds, including burglary and drug use. They’ve never held up a place at knifepoint or harmed a young child. They live at home -- in Irvine and nearby cities -- and travel to school by bus, like other high school students. They attend classes, undergo counseling, receive vocational training and join recreational programs. As for supervision, there is an adult for every two students.

After the school day, they go home -- probably with a stop at a local fast-food joint, video store or one of the other spots teenagers find so fascinating.

In other words, these kids are considered so low-risk and reclaimable that the justice system trusts them to live in the same neighborhoods where the preschoolers and their families live. They could even be next-door neighbors. Or show up at the same restaurants for dinner. The most restricted and supervised part of their day is at school.

The county runs several such centers, some in residential neighborhoods. None has ever caused a problem, according to the Probation Department. The department got the preschool owner’s approval before the teen program moved in next door, and added a screened fence to accommodate its neighbor.

The Probation Department -- and the teenagers -- deserve praise for inviting the preschool parents to come visit the center and talk to the kids. Some enlightened parents have expressed interest in doing so.

No matter how fine a preschool a child attends, or how caring the family, any child can grow into a teenager who will commit a regrettable mistake. Children at the probation center have parents who worry about their safety too. Everyone hopes the mothers and fathers at Christian Montessori will never know that kind of parental grief. But if they ever do, they would be grateful to have a progressive program nearby that gives their child some extra help and another chance.