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Throughout the UK, students have been calling out the expression ““67” during lessons in the newest meme-based phenomenon to spread through schools.

Although some educators have chosen to stoically ignore the trend, some have accepted it. Several educators share how they’re dealing.

‘I thought I had said something rude’

Earlier in September, I had been talking to my year 11 students about getting ready for their qualification tests in June. I can’t remember exactly what it was in reference to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re working to marks six, seven …” and the complete classroom started chuckling. It took me totally off guard.

My initial reaction was that I might have delivered an allusion to an offensive subject, or that they detected a quality in my pronunciation that appeared amusing. Slightly annoyed – but truly interested and conscious that they weren’t trying to be hurtful – I persuaded them to clarify. Honestly, the explanation they offered didn’t provide greater understanding – I still had minimal understanding.

What might have made it especially amusing was the considering motion I had executed while speaking. I later found out that this typically pairs with “six-seven”: I had intended it to aid in demonstrating the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

In order to end the trend I try to mention it as much as I can. Nothing deflates a phenomenon like this more thoroughly than an grown-up attempting to get involved.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Knowing about it helps so that you can steer clear of just unintentionally stating comments like “well, there were 6, 7 thousand people without work in Germany in 1933”. If the digit pairing is inevitable, maintaining a rock-solid student discipline system and expectations on learner demeanor really helps, as you can sanction it as you would any other disruption, but I’ve not really had to do that. Policies are necessary, but if pupils accept what the educational institution is doing, they will remain less distracted by the internet crazes (particularly in lesson time).

With six-seven, I haven’t lost any lesson time, aside from an infrequent eyebrow raise and stating ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. If you give attention to it, it transforms into an inferno. I address it in the same way I would manage any different interruption.

Earlier occurred the mathematical meme phenomenon a few years ago, and certainly there will appear a different trend subsequently. This is typical youth activity. During my own childhood, it was performing television personalities mimicry (admittedly out of the learning space).

Students are spontaneous, and I think it falls to the teacher to behave in a way that redirects them in the direction of the path that will get them to their educational goals, which, with luck, is graduating with certificates rather than a behaviour list a mile long for the utilization of arbitrary digits.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

Young learners utilize it like a unifying phrase in the schoolyard: a student calls it and the others respond to show they are the same group. It resembles a verbal exchange or a sports cheer – an agreed language they possess. I believe it has any distinct importance to them; they merely recognize it’s a thing to say. No matter what the newest phenomenon is, they desire to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my teaching space, however – it triggers a reminder if they call it out – identical to any additional verbal interruption is. It’s notably challenging in mathematics classes. But my pupils at fifth grade are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re fairly accepting of the guidelines, whereas I appreciate that at secondary [school] it may be a different matter.

I have worked as a instructor for a decade and a half, and these phenomena continue for three or four weeks. This craze will die out soon – it invariably occurs, especially once their little brothers and sisters commence repeating it and it ceases to be trendy. Subsequently they will be on to the next thing.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while teaching English at a international school. It was primarily male students repeating it. I educated teenagers and it was widespread with the less experienced learners. I was unaware what it was 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.

These trends are constantly changing. ““Toilet meme” was a popular meme back when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly appear as frequently in the classroom. Differing from “six-seven”, ““that particular meme” was not inscribed on the chalkboard in lessons, so students were less able to pick up on it.

I simply disregard it, or sometimes I will chuckle alongside them if I accidentally say it, trying to relate to them and understand that it’s merely pop culture. I think they simply desire to experience that feeling of community and camaraderie.

‘Playfully shouting it means I rarely hear it now’

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