New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights takes effect September 1st

Bullying is a serious problem in the United States many school districts and state legislatures across the country have been taking action by creating new policies and passing new laws.  On September 1st, New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights goes into effect.

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights in New Jersey comes almost a year after the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi.  The sad reality is that suicide is a leading cause of death for teenagers.  In Indiana, the suicide of 15-year-old Billy Lucas was a tragic wake up call to teachers and parents.  Still, the death of Billy Lucas wasn't enough to get a bullying law passed in Indiana.  I'm hoping a bullying law proposal in the next Indiana legislative session will at least make it out of committee.

The new law in New Jersey is being called the toughest anti-bullying law in the country.  Lots of states have taken different approaches when it comes to using laws to protect school children, so your representatives need to hear from you.  Go to your state's legislative website, find your representative and send them a message.  Some states have websites that allow you to send quick messages, while others connect you by email.  And don't forget, you can always send a real letter.  The point is to let your representatives know how you feel so they can pass laws that protect kids from bullying.

The anti-bullying law in New Jersey may help create a philosophy that their are no innocent bystanders: if you see bullying you have a responsibility to report it.  I think this is important.  Dealing with bullying is very difficult and someone experiencing bullying at school may be too uncomfortable to seek out help on their own.  If you see someone being bullied, mention it to a teacher, counselor or parent.  You don't have to point fingers.  Simply let an adult know that you saw something that made you uncomfortable and ask them to check and make sure everything is okay.  For many of us taking a stand against bullying is a really hard thing to do. Just remember, your help may save a life.

My first week as a college student at Vincennes University!

So for those of you that have been following my journey you know there are two things I was really looking forward to this summer.  Back in June, I was super excited to compete in the state pageant in the miss division which had been a dream of mine for years.  Even more important, I was so excited to finally, finally, graduate from high school and start my career as a college student.  Now that it is August, I can proudly check that second one of my list.

I am officially a student at Vincennes University!  Classes started on Monday and I couldn't be more excited.  All of my classes went really well and I am looking forward to a great semester with my new classmates and instructors.  Although I will be in class five days a week, I have a good schedule with lots of flexibility, and I secretly like that my five day schedule will probably help keep me focused on academics.  I know lots of students who schedule themselves for three or four day weekends and then find themselves overloaded and frantic trying to keep up.  Bottom line, know your strengths and work with your advisor to find classes and schedule that works for you.

Since this is my first year of college I will spend most of my time focusing on fundamental coursework that will be the foundation of my degree.  Over the summer I was investigating career paths, and I have to say I got really excited when I took a close look at Homeland Security and Law Enforcement.  Now this might sound odd for a beauty-queen-monster-truck-driving-crown-wearing-country-singer, but the options in the law enforcement field are really cool.  I have some short-term goals and I am just starting to think about the specifics of my career path, so its exciting to get started in the classroom at Vincennes University.

Miracle Treat Day is August 11th and a big congrats to Princess Gia!

Join me for Miracle Treat Day on Thursday, August 11th at your favorite Dairy Queen!  Get your favorite treat and help support the Children's Miracle Network.  For my friends in Southern Indiana, I will be at the Dairy Queen in Loogootee.  The Children's Miracle Network is the national platform of the Miss America Organization, so you will see lots of local and state titleholders volunteering on Miracle Treat Day.

The summer is going by fast but there are still lots of summer festivals and fairs to visit. This past Saturday I went to the Vincennes Watermelon Pageant to cheer on my Miss Indiaan Princess Gia compete. I was so proud to see Gia take the stage in the pre-teen division and I know she will keep working hard and chasing her dreams.

See you at Dairy Queen for Miracle Treat Day!

Amy Hestir's law bans Facebook friendships between teachers and students in Missouri

Everyone loves Facebook and most people are starting to think that technology, specifically social media, will be what my generation is remembered for the most.  In an effort to protect school children from inappropriate relationships with teachers, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed a new state law that specifically prohibits Facebook friendships between teachers and students.

The law is called the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act and it still allows teachers to set up public pages for their classes, but it prohibits friendships between teachers and students on social media websites.  Unfortunately, students sometimes find themselves in bad relationships with teachers.  Obviously lawmakers in Missouri decided they needed to address the increasing issues with Facebook.

Protecting students from inappropriate relationships, negative peer pressure and bullying is really important, and it is why I use my Happy Kids Safe Schools platform to promote education and programming that prevents bullying in our schools.  Indiana needs a state law to make sure our kids have greater protection from bullying, especially cyberbullying and text-message bullying, so get in touch with your local lawmakers to make your voice heard.  The Amy Hestir Student Protection Act is a step in the right direction because it shows that when lawmakers take a close look at the serious issues facing our children they will take action.

Keep reading the PresBlog to learn more about my Happy Kids Safe Schools platform and take a stand today against bullying in our schools and communities!