A Chief Buck is a small green slip of paper that represents money as an award for behaving properly. The motive for creating Chief Bucks was an action based on the initiative called “Promoting Behavior in Schools” (PBIS). Good behavior can be classified as turning in work on time, helping out another student, or participating in or exemplifying any of the expectations on the CHIEFS matrix.
Moving my clip to green on the behavior chart in Kindergarten made me feel more accomplished than I do when I receive a Chief Buck, even though there are extravagant prizes.
These Chief Bucks can be exchanged into awards such as gift cards, Stanley’s, AirPods, snacks and more.
Rewards for behavior should be kept for young kids rather than young adults who should know how to act.
A clip chart, back from elementary school, was a ladder ranging from red, (worst behavior) to green, (best behavior). There was no reward, just a simple move of a clip when a teacher thought you were properly behaved or misbehaved.
When I was in Kindergarten, it was the highlight of my day to help others, do my work, and say “thank you” just to move my clip up a level. I remember vividly the one time I had to move my clip down for talking during a test. It devastated me.
In reality, this clip chart supported my understanding of basic everyday responsibilities, mannerisms, and more. A Chief Buck, with the same intentions, does not teach students the same way.
Students have already been taught throughout school the basics on good behavior. It is the students choice if they do not wish to follow those rules and that is why there are consequences.
Although the chance of winning a prize is nice, it’s also childish and honestly isn’t doing much for the school. There have still been numerous behavioral issues that I have seen. On top of this, teachers rarely give out the Chief Bucks anyway. I am a good student and have only received three Chief Bucks since they were announced at the start of the year.
“I do give them [Chief Bucks] out, however I ran out of them and when I went to get more, there was no more at the time,” Spanish teacher Jessica Marshall said.
Without adequate resources it can be hard to continue to promote positive behavior and Chief Bucks will lose their objective.
Although the intentions of Chief Bucks is a good way to try and promote good behavior with prizes, the reality of it falls down to real world scenarios.
In a workplace, a worker will not receive a reward for doing their job and behaving properly with customers, as this is just part of their job.
It’s a student’s job to go to school, obtain knowledge, maintain relationships, and other skills to have a beneficial college, work, and life experience after high school. Chief Bucks do not fit the criteria in which high school students should be learning from.
