Bark Bucks are NAHS’ new way of rewarding students for doing the right things. Unfortunately, students who are already doing the right thing tend to not get rewarded as much. Bark Bucks are a new alternative for students to be encouraged to do the right thing.
At first, I felt like the idea of ‘Bark Bucks’ was a childish way of making kids listen. I thought it was silly because we were in high school and didn’t need to be treated like children and more like adults. When it comes to high school, it was always enforced that we were adults and we needed to act like it in order to better succeed in life after graduation.
Now, seeing the other side of it, rewarding those who don’t get rewarded as often, doesn’t seem as silly to me anymore. As one of the students who don’t get recognized as much for doing the right thing, I understand the idea of giving them a chance to earn a reward for it and why it is so important.
Personally, I feel like the idea of Bark Bucks are a nice way to reinforce the idea of doing something good just because it is a good thing; however, reinforcing the idea of students doing something just to get something in return may make them assume every time they do something good, they deserve a Bark Buck.
In the long run, I feel like Bark Bucks aren’t as silly as I first thought them to be, I thought we were too old for it, earning fake money to redeem a prize. But honestly, I don’t really see any harm in it, and really think it is a nice way to reward students who may not get rewarded often the chance to finally earn something for simply doing the right thing in a school environment.
The rewards start from simple snacks, chips, sodas, full-size candy bars and will progressively get bigger as the year goes on. At the end of the semester, students will be able to have their names put into a drawing and possibly be chosen to win AirPods, as well as other expensive prizes.
I think it’s a fun and interactive way to encourage students to show up on time to school, be on time to class, be helpful to peers, be on task and more. The different ways to get Barks Bucks is really wide, relatively anything that is classified as productive or simply a kind gesture can earn a Bark Buck.
Teachers have the opportunities to hand out Bark Bucks to their students when they see good behavior or a reason a student deserves to receive one. It also doesn’t have to be your teacher, it could be a random staff member who notices you doing a good deed.
A downside of the Bark Buck system is that some of the teachers don’t hand them out as much as others do, and some of them simply forget they have them to hand out.
When it comes to the idea of the Bark Buck system, I wish there was another area they could distribute the rewards besides the cafeteria. If they had a little booth set up in the Senior Lounge, there would be a little less crowding in the cafeteria. Or maybe a room only meant for redeeming them and having a student-run club running it.
I feel like students will take advantage of the idea of being able to buy prom tickets with Bark Bucks and it will be a nice way for them to redeem them. However, the money from the ticket sales is used for the venue and food at prom, where will the money come from?
It is definitely a positive way for students to become more involved with school and getting their work done on time. It is a nice involvement students look forward to at NAHS. I feel like there will be some bumps in the road with the idea but I feel like it will be just fine. I actually enjoy getting the Bark Bucks and look forward to hopefully buying a prom ticket with them.
