You may be wondering “what’s up with all the green dots around the school?” Well, they’re part of a movement coming to C.H.S. called Green Dot. 

Ms. Ernst is one teacher leading the charge with local organization SARA to get students involved. But what exactly is Green Dot? It’s an initiative to encourage bystanders to step up when they witness an act of abuse or harm, run on the idea that “nobody has to do everything, but everyone can do something,” Ms. Ernst said. The name comes from a play on “invasion” or “contagion movies,” where a map becomes covered with red dots as an infection spreads across the world, she explained. In this case, the infection, or red dot, is personal abuse, and a green dot is the cure – when a bystander steps in. 

Green Dot isn’t only a movement, though. It’s also a day-long training in which interested participants are taught specific ways in which they can learn to stand up to abuse.The trainings are centered around ways to use “the Three D’s; direct, distract, delegate” Ms. Ernst explained.  Just like the movement, the trainings are open to anyone. All you have to do is find one of the folders with permission slips that are hung around the school, and turn the form in to Ms. Ernst or the main office. Each training lasts one full school day, and there are four sessions offered on 10/9, 10/15, 10/18, and 10/24. 

This isn’t the first time Green Dot has come to C.H.S., but it is the first time it has been open to anyone. Lamont Bullard completed the training his sophomore year, and had a positive experience with it. “I thought it was great,” he said. His only complaint was the length of the training. “I enjoyed it for the most part, but I just felt like it was too long,” he admitted, but he “liked the idea behind it.” The experience would be particularly helpful for those who want to stand up but lack the confidence to do so, Lamont thinks: “It’s good to know if you’re someone who doesn’t like confrontation, so you can help out without putting yourself in danger.” Overall, “I think more people should definitely be learning it,” he said. 

So if you’re a student like Grady Gilmore, who has seen the dots around school and said they “are very pretty and I want to learn more about them,” fill out one of the permission slips found in the hallways. Grady has no past experience with Green Dot, but has heard people mentioning it and has noticed the decorations, and if that applies to you, too, then you also qualify for Green Dot! Just don’t forget to turn your form in to the library.