Month: February 2018

MEET MY GRANDPA

JOSEPH COOK ELEMENTARY, NAMED AFTER MY GRANDPA

Meet my grandpa Joseph Cook of Syracuse, Utah.  He was a life-long educator who loves kids.  That’s me, sitting on his lap on his beloved farm.  I was always at peace whenever I could sit on his lap, even in church!

Grandpa Cook was an outstanding man!
Me and my wonderful grandpa, Joseph Cook, of Syracuse, Utah!

He loved kids,  particularly his grandkids, of which I am one.  No one could ask for a finer grandpa!

Joseph loved education too.  Because of that, he was a life-long teacher.  His accomplishments in the field of education are legendary in his hometown.

An elementary school carries his name!  He always enjoyed working with students while he was the principal of a local high school, because he inspires them!

A plaque displays these words below his picture:

“There is an old saying, ‘Keep ahead of youth or get run over.’  I believe it.  George Bernard Shaw said, “Youth is a wonderful thing; it’s too bad young people have all of it.”  Most of my cherished experiences have happened while working with youth.  They are and should be the hope of civilization.”

Honoring his legacy pleases me.  Honoring the legacy of his son (my father),  Alan D. Cook, pleases me too.  My dad taught religion and philosophy at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, for many years.  While there, he made a major impact on his students.  I know, because I was one of them!

I carry both of their names.  Therefore, I am interested to do what I can to show the youth of our country, via their schools, that they are loved and admired.  That is what my grandpa would do.  My father would do the same.

I believe that many of my cherished experiences will happen in the future while working with youth through their schools.  That’s something I can do now.

Check out the school by visiting their website here:  https://www.davis.k12.ut.us/Domain/1742

For a history of Joseph Cook Elementary, visit here:

https://www.davis.k12.ut.us/domain/9224

 

 

THE PLAN

I plan to do something to offset the random acts of violence that are happening in our nation’s schools.  So, here is

The Plan

In honor of the 17 people who lost their lives at the Parkland, Florida incident on February 14, 2018, I plan to visit 17 schools that I have a vested interest in.  Then, I will show the students there some extra love.  I want to provide 17 gift bags that each have 17 gift cards in them from various popular stores, restaurants, movie theaters and the like.  Each gift card contains $17. 

The value of each gift bag will be $289.  Seventeen students randomly receive the bags.  Ideally, I will also have one gift card for EVERY student, faculty and staff member at the school that will have $17 pre-loaded onto it.

Gift bags are just one idea we can use.  The principals at the schools are another source of ideas.  In addition, foundation members at the local school districts help a great deal.  I will be talking to these people to get their input on what would be most helpful to their students.

I want to send a message of love and admiration to students from preschool to college level.  Also, I want them to know that good things can also randomly happen while they are at school.  I hope this effort gets local and nationwide media coverage.  With any luck, it might begin to offset the negative images of hatred and violence that are captured when random acts of violence occur at schools.  The incident in Parkland, Florida on Valentine’s Day of 2018 is a recent example of that violence.

You can help with this effort by making a donation to purchase the gift cards.  If you have a connection with a business that might donate items for the bags, please let us know!

Finally, if you would like to make a donation, just use the link below:





 

Welcome to Loved at School!

I can’t do anything about the recent deadly attack at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida where 17 students were killed.

I can’t do anything about the gun laws in our country except write my congressional representatives, which I have done.

I can’t do anything about the next (hopefully I’m wrong) deadly attack that will happen at an unsuspecting school because I don’t know when, where, or how it will happen or by whom.

But I CAN DO SOMETHING right away to show our wonderful kids and young people at schools that they are loved and admired.  I can arrange with the proper authorities to go to their schools  and show them some extra love by surprising them with gifts.  I want students to not fear going to school; I want students to be excited to go to school because they might get showered with some extra blessings while they are there.

That’s what I am going to do.  And you can help.

You can help in this effort by making a donation which will be used to buy gift cards, treats, prizes and other fun items for the students.  Show the students in our country that you love them too.

Don’t sit idly by and talk about what a scary world it is; get involved now and help swing the pendulum towards love and away from hate.  These kids deserve it!