Oregon Senate Committee to hold public hearings on bullying

This week the Oregon Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee will hold a public hearing on bullying.  The Oregon Legislature is considering a proposal that would require school employees to report acts of bullying and intimidation.

The Oregon proposal also includes one of the most unique ideas I've seen: a measure that would require schools to create an anonymous reporting system for students to report bullying, and a requirement to report cases to the police.

Public hearings are a really important step forward, and I am very hopeful that the next legislature in Indiana will at least move a proposed bullying law forward enough to allow a hearing.  In Kentucky, their state legislature quickly approved increased protection in cases of bullying after hearing testimony.  I think the Indiana legislature wants to do the right thing.  I think they want to take a stand, but maybe because they haven't had a chance to hear testimony they don't know the issue is very serious.

Everyone can take a stand today by contacting their representative and letting them know they want tougher laws in Indiana to protect our children from bullying, cyberbullying, and all forms of peer-to-peer intimidation.

What does the word Bully make you think of?

Recently while I was searching the internet looking for good resources about bullying, I came across a neat PBS website about bullying that asked a great question:

"What does the word bully make you think of?"

PBS Kids does a great It's My Life series, and they have a good page with lots of information about bullying.  This website does a good job of talking about what to look for in several types of bullying such as physical, verbal and even relationship bullying.

We can all do our part to stomp out bullying in our schools.  Get informed and take a stand today!

Jean M. Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying created at University of Buffalo

I am really thrilled to see a new national research center has been created at University of Buffalo to specifically address the serious issues kids are facing with bullying in their lives.

The newly created Jean M. Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying, Abuse and School Violence will work to help stop what they are calling "child abuse by children."

Janice DeLucia-Waack from U of Buffalo's School Counseling Program said "For a long time in this country it has been just kids being kids, and that this bullying did not have long-term consequences."

Bullying is such as serious issue, and depending on what numbers you look at, this is an issue that could be impacting as many as 1 in 7 school children, which is just heartbreaking.

Janice DeLucia-Waack talks about bullying and the new center in a video online here.

Bullying is getting a lot of national attention right now, which I hope helps kids and parents take a stand.  Taking a stand means kids reporting bullying to teachers, and it means parents calling their legislatures to demand tough laws on bullying to protect children in our schools.

Take a stand today!

Congrats to the winners of the Miss Indiana Sweeps Pageant!

The 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant is right around the corner, and I am happy to congratulate the winners of the Miss Indiana Sweeps Pageant: congratulations to Emily Hart and Katie Donnar.

Miss Indiana really gets things started on May 1st with the 2nd Annual Miss Indiana Miracle Bowl for Kids, an event to benefit Children's Miracle Network and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.  May 1st is also what Miss Indiana calls "kick-off," which is the day all the Miss Indiana contestants gather in Zionsville to turn in all their application paperwork and get all the information about the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant.

I am really excited to get to Zionsville!  Be sure to follow me and the 31 contestants headed to the 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant by clicking on my Road to Miss Indiana section.

Missouri considers tougher anti-bullying laws; new article defines cyberbullying

All over America people are taking as stand to create safe and happy schools for our kids, and now lawmakers in Missouri are calling for better state anti-bullying laws.

Missouri House member Sue Allen from St Louis County said school districts should have specific policies against cyberbullying, and she talked about how students sometimes send text messages, emails or web postings that can be just as hurtful as physical intimidation.

Recently Gwenn O'Keeffe wrote an article for Pediatrics discussing the impact of social media on children, adolescents and families.  O'Keeffe defined cyberbullying as "deliberately using digital media to communicate false, embarrassing, or hostile information about another person."  The article went on to say that online harassment and cyberbullying are actually different, and that cyberbullying is "the most common online risk for all teens and is a peer-to-peer risk."

I am proud to see lawmakers in Missouri take a stand for their children and propose changes to their state laws that will protect kids at school, and might even allow a victim to take legal action against the person intimidating them.

I know how Facebook has become very popular these days, and even most titleholders in the Miss America Organization are using Facebook and other social networking tools to advance their platform and promote their local programs.  I hope everyone using Facebook is careful.  I think O'Keeffe states the core concerns very well.

"Using social media becomes a risk to adolescents more often than most adults realize.  Most fall into the following categories: peer-to-peer; inappropriate contact; lack of understanding of online privacy issues; and outside influence of third-party advertising groups."

Take a stand today, tell your representatives that you want stronger anti-bullying laws, and be careful and smart when it comes to Facebook and social media.

Congratulations to Miss West Central 2011 Hannah Clingan!

Congratulations to the very first Miss West Central, Hannah Clingan!  I met Hannah earlier in the local pageant season when we both competed in Terre Haute at the Banks of the Wabash preliminary.  I am really excited Hannah kept competing this season and now she is headed to the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant as the very first Miss West Central.  Like Hannah, I had to compete a few times this season before I won a local title.  So the lesson here is to keep working hard and always chase your dreams.

I remember when Hannah competed at the Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant a few years ago.  I remember thinking how she was one of the most beautiful contestants in the pageant, and she is very talented so I can't wait to see her on the Miss Indiana stage in June.

Miss Indiana Miracle Bowl for Kids is coming up on May 1st, so be sure to go to the Miss Indiana website for all the information, and keep your eye on the Miss Indiana website for all the details about the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant in June in Zionsville.

For a list of the 2011 Miss Indiana contestants, check out my Road to Miss Indiana section.