Teacher's Method Of Charging Students 'Desk Rent' To Teach Them Financial Literacy Sparks Debate

TikTok is a marvel of an invention because now information can be shared quickly, seamlessly, and concisely. Life hacks are one of the defining sides of TikTok. But can a "life hack" go too far?

This is the question Mr. Vuong found himself faced with after creating a pseudo-capitalist system for his students in class, and sharing his procedure and how he believes it benefits the kids on TikTok.

Vuong has instituted a reward system in his classroom, wherein students earn "brain bucks" for various activities. Over the course of the year, they will be required to pay 15 brain bucks per month or one big sum total of 75 brain bucks for the year in order to pay off their "desk rent." Smaller sums of bucks can also be used to purchase small toys from a prize pool.

The idea Vuong is working with is that the system will teach the kids their own habits when it comes to money, as well as skills for budgeting and saving.

"It's really interesting to see which kids have delayed or instant gratification and see how they budget their money."

Immediately, Mr. Vuong received plenty of pushback.

@teamvuong/TikTok

@teamvuong/TikTok

@teamvuong/TikTok

@teamvuong/TikTok

In response, Mr. Vuong released a follow up video explaining some of the finer details of the system. His first order of business: addressing what happens if someone can't pay their desk rent.

"If they don't have enough because of a decision that they made that's in their control, it would be a really teachable moment on how to budget their money so that they can meet their next month's rent."

"And no, I would not traumatize and shame kids by evicting them and taking away their desk if they can't make rent."

@teamvuong/TikTok

@teamvuong/TikTok

@teamvuong/TikTok

@teamvuong/TikTok

Vuong also stressed that the kids had plenty of opportunity to earn besides just attendance.

Other activities that can earn a child "brain bucks" include acts of kindness, listening to others, effort and participation, contribution to class discussions, teamwork, and showing integrity.

@teamvuong/TikTok

@teamvuong/TikTok

@teamvuong/TikTok

@teamvuong/TikTok

Vuong's system is always improving, and because of TikTok, Vuong said he would now like to add sick and personal days into the system to make those things less of a question mark for the people attending class.

We look forward to an update on how the system is working for he and his kids.