Dear Mr. Murphy:
I think it is important that you know what your students are doing on their trip to California.
I was tired and hungry when I stopped at Panda Express for supper. The line for service was moving slowly. Next thing I know, five or six high school students came and got in line. In a few minutes, more came; and then more.
I silently rolled my eyes knowing full well how exuberant 13-18 year old students can be when in groups. I also began to look around the room to see where I would be likely to find a seat, if they should start landing at the tables even before they got their meals.
As a retired school teacher, counselor and administrator, I was preparing for the worst and hoping for “not too bad”.
Well, sir, I am delighted to tell you that I was overwhelmingly surprised and pleased. Not only were they well mannered as they waited patiently in line, in addition, they sat down and ate their meals like normal human beings. They were smiling and happy without being boisterous or obnoxious. The girls who sat at the table across from me were pleasant to observe. I am accustomed to the body language of gossip. Instead I saw friendly interaction.
It was a little while before I even noticed that their vocabulary was the kind one would like to hear all the time. Not only was there no profanity, they actually spoke plain English.
Not only that, but they talked to each other without the constant interruption of text messages.
When I finally asked where they were from, they pleasantly told me they were from Timpanogos High School in Utah and they were the cross country team here for a track meet on Saturday.
Let me assure you that it doesn’t really matter how they do in the track meet, they are all winners already. Each of them has taken advantage of positive parental guidance as well as church and school training to become fine young ladies and gentlemen.
Be proud of your young people: You have a right to be.
Alan Shelton
I silently rolled my eyes knowing full well how exuberant 13-18 year old students can be when in groups. I also began to look around the room to see where I would be likely to find a seat, if they should start landing at the tables even before they got their meals.
As a retired school teacher, counselor and administrator, I was preparing for the worst and hoping for “not too bad”.
Well, sir, I am delighted to tell you that I was overwhelmingly surprised and pleased. Not only were they well mannered as they waited patiently in line, in addition, they sat down and ate their meals like normal human beings. They were smiling and happy without being boisterous or obnoxious. The girls who sat at the table across from me were pleasant to observe. I am accustomed to the body language of gossip. Instead I saw friendly interaction.
It was a little while before I even noticed that their vocabulary was the kind one would like to hear all the time. Not only was there no profanity, they actually spoke plain English.
Not only that, but they talked to each other without the constant interruption of text messages.
When I finally asked where they were from, they pleasantly told me they were from Timpanogos High School in Utah and they were the cross country team here for a track meet on Saturday.
Let me assure you that it doesn’t really matter how they do in the track meet, they are all winners already. Each of them has taken advantage of positive parental guidance as well as church and school training to become fine young ladies and gentlemen.
Be proud of your young people: You have a right to be.
Alan Shelton
