A open letter to our young visitors

Earlier this morning, I took a break to visit our local Taqueria on the main floor of the Business Building for a couple of their delicious (and generous) breakfast tacos.  There was a minor hubbub going on, as a half-dozen young boys, more or less in school uniforms, were milling about.  Apparently they had ducked out of a visiting school group to grab a quick morning snack, and were trying to reconcile their finances with their appetites.  Once they got that sorted out, their instructor appeared, who proceded to sort them out.  Unfortunately, I think she pretty much missed an excellent "teaching moment."  Here’s my lesson plan:

Boys (and I use the term with all it implies):

    Today you had an opportunity to visit a major university, and associate with some of the students, faculty, and staff.  One reason we introduce you to adults is so you will begin to act like an adult.  This morning, it didn’t work so well. 

    My first clue was seeing some of you running back and forth inside the Business Building.  Running inside any public building or place of business is inherently hazardous, and therefore careless and inconsiderate.  Unless there were an emergency, you shouldn’t have been running.  When I entered the Bistro, I knew it was infested with children.  You were milling around, blocking the counter, talking and interrupting each other, and generally impeding everyone else.  The topper, however, was when more than one of you asked the price for a potato-and-egg taco, even though the price was clearly posted on the wall behind the serving counter.  What are you? stupid?  It’s not enough you want someone to fix you breakfast, you want them to read you the menu, too.

   But wait, there’s more.  When you ducked out of your group to grab a snack, you broke ranks.  You walked out on your instructor without her knowledge or permission, and put her on the spot.  She was responsible for you this morning, and suddenly, she didn’t know where you were.  That shows a profound carelessness and lack of respect on your part.

   If it were up to me, I wouldn’t let you into high school, let alone the University of Texas.  Here endeth the lesson.