‘You just have to laugh’: several UK teachers on dealing with ‘‘67’ in the classroom

Around the UK, students have been calling out the words ““67” during classes in the newest viral trend to sweep across schools.

While some teachers have opted to patiently overlook the trend, different educators have embraced it. Five educators explain how they’re coping.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Earlier in September, I had been talking to my secondary school class about getting ready for their GCSE exams in June. I don’t recall exactly what it was in relation to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re targeting grades six, seven …” and the complete classroom started chuckling. It surprised me totally off guard.

My first thought was that I’d made an reference to an offensive subject, or that they’d heard a quality in my speech pattern that seemed humorous. Slightly frustrated – but truly interested and mindful that they weren’t malicious – I asked them to clarify. Honestly, the explanation they offered didn’t provide greater understanding – I continued to have little comprehension.

What possibly caused it to be especially amusing was the weighing-up motion I had made while speaking. I have since discovered that this typically pairs with ““sixseven”: I meant it to help convey the action of me speaking my mind.

To end the trend I try to reference it as often as I can. Nothing reduces a trend like this more thoroughly than an adult trying to join in.

‘If you give oxygen to it, then it becomes an inferno’

Understanding it helps so that you can steer clear of just accidentally making comments like “indeed, there were 6, 7 hundred unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is inevitable, maintaining a firm student discipline system and expectations on pupil behavior is advantageous, as you can sanction it as you would any different disturbance, but I’ve not really needed to implement that. Rules are important, but if learners buy into what the educational institution is doing, they’ll be better concentrated by the viral phenomena (particularly in instructional hours).

Regarding six-seven, I haven’t lost any lesson time, aside from an occasional quizzical look and saying “yes, that’s a number, well done”. Should you offer focus on it, it transforms into an inferno. I address it in the same way I would treat any other interruption.

Earlier occurred the mathematical meme craze a while back, and undoubtedly there will emerge another craze following this. This is typical youth activity. When I was youth, it was performing television personalities impressions (admittedly out of the classroom).

Young people are unpredictable, and I believe it falls to the teacher to behave in a manner that steers them in the direction of the direction that will help them toward their academic objectives, which, with luck, is coming out with academic achievements rather than a disciplinary record lengthy for the employment of arbitrary digits.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

The children use it like a bonding chant in the schoolyard: a pupil shouts it and the remaining students reply to indicate they’re part of the identical community. It resembles a verbal exchange or a football chant – an agreed language they share. I believe it has any distinct significance to them; they simply understand it’s a phenomenon to say. No matter what the latest craze is, they seek to be included in it.

It’s banned in my classroom, however – it triggers a reminder if they exclaim it – identical to any other calling out is. It’s particularly difficult in numeracy instruction. But my pupils at primary level are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re relatively compliant with the rules, whereas I appreciate that at high school it might be a different matter.

I have served as a teacher for 15 years, and these crazes last for a month or so. This craze will die out shortly – they always do, especially once their little brothers and sisters commence repeating it and it ceases to be cool. Afterward they shall be on to the subsequent trend.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while teaching English at a international school. It was mainly boys saying it. I instructed students from twelve to eighteen and it was widespread within the younger pupils. I was unaware its meaning at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I understood it was merely a viral phenomenon similar to when I was at school.

Such phenomena are always shifting. ““Skibidi” was a popular meme back when I was at my educational institute, but it didn’t particularly appear as frequently in the educational setting. Unlike “six-seven”, “skibidi toilet” was never written on the board in class, so learners were less equipped to adopt it.

I typically overlook it, or periodically I will chuckle alongside them if I inadvertently mention it, trying to relate to them and appreciate that it is just youth culture. In my opinion they merely seek to enjoy that sensation of community and friendship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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