Indianola has decided that the way to deal with its “troubled” teens is by putting them to bed early. A proposed curfew, if put in effect, would require people under 18 to be off the streets between midnight and 5 a.m.

The only exceptions would be to return home from work, religious or school activities.

By not obeying the curfew twice, children risk having their parents fined $100 or 30 days imprisonment. Teenagers risk being sentenced to 30-days of community service.

City officials claim that the curfew is necessary because of vandalism, littering, underage drinking, drug-use and other “anti-social” behavior, behavior that teens in the area deny. The teens feel that the curfew is unwarranted.

Officials admit that the curfew would only “solve a very narrow scope of the problem.” But if that’s the case, wouldn’t there be another, better solution to any problems that exist?

Rather than slamming their children’s bedroom doors shut, the city should realize that help might be in order. Instead of simply emptying the streets, maybe the city should come to grips with why their kids are on the streets to begin with.