‘You just have to laugh’: a quintet of UK instructors on dealing with ‘‘67’ in the school environment

Throughout the UK, school pupils have been calling out the expression ““67” during lessons in the most recent viral trend to take over schools.

Although some educators have chosen to calmly disregard the trend, some have accepted it. Several teachers describe how they’re managing.

‘My initial assumption was that I’d uttered something offensive’

Earlier in September, I had been talking to my secondary school tutor group about preparing for their secondary school examinations in June. I don’t recall specifically what it was in connection with, but I said something like “ … if you’re working to grades six, seven …” and the complete classroom erupted in laughter. It surprised me completely by surprise.

My first thought was that I’d made an allusion to an offensive subject, or that they’d heard an element of my accent that seemed humorous. A bit frustrated – but honestly intrigued and conscious that they weren’t trying to be malicious – I persuaded them to clarify. To be honest, the explanation they offered didn’t provide significant clarification – I remained with little comprehension.

What could have made it particularly humorous was the evaluating movement I had made while speaking. I have since learned that this often accompanies “six-seven”: I had intended it to help convey the process of me thinking aloud.

In order to end the trend I attempt to reference it as frequently as I can. Nothing reduces a craze like this more effectively than an grown-up trying to get involved.

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

Understanding it aids so that you can avoid just accidentally making statements like “indeed, there were 6, 7 thousand jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is unavoidable, possessing a rock-solid student discipline system and standards on pupil behavior really helps, as you can address it as you would any different disturbance, but I rarely been required to take that action. Guidelines are important, but if pupils accept what the school is implementing, they’ll be less distracted by the viral phenomena (particularly in instructional hours).

Concerning sixseven, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, aside from an infrequent eyebrow raise and saying ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. Should you offer oxygen to it, it evolves into an inferno. I treat it in the identical manner I would manage any additional interruption.

There was the nine plus ten equals twenty-one trend a few years ago, and there will no doubt be a different trend subsequently. It’s what kids do. Back when I was childhood, it was doing Kevin and Perry impressions (admittedly away from the classroom).

Students are unforeseeable, and In my opinion it falls to the teacher to behave in a manner that guides them in the direction of the course that will help them toward their academic objectives, which, with luck, is completing their studies with academic achievements instead of a behaviour list extensive for the employment of arbitrary digits.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

Students use it like a unifying phrase in the schoolyard: a pupil shouts it and the other children answer to indicate they’re part of the equivalent circle. It’s like a interactive chant or a stadium slogan – an common expression they use. I don’t think it has any distinct importance to them; they simply understand it’s a trend to say. Whatever the latest craze is, they desire to feel part of it.

It’s forbidden in my teaching space, though – it triggers a reminder if they exclaim it – identical to any different calling out is. It’s notably difficult in numeracy instruction. But my pupils at year 5 are children aged nine to ten, so they’re fairly adherent to the regulations, while I appreciate that at secondary [school] it might be a separate situation.

I’ve been a instructor for 15 years, and such trends last for three or four weeks. This trend will diminish shortly – they always do, notably once their little brothers and sisters start saying it and it’s no longer trendy. Then they’ll be on to the next thing.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I first detected it in August, while instructing in English at a language institute. It was mainly male students saying it. I taught teenagers and it was widespread with the younger pupils. I was unaware its significance at the time, but as a young adult and I understood it was simply an internet trend comparable to when I attended classes.

The crazes are always shifting. “Skibidi toilet” was a familiar phenomenon at the time when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly occur as often in the educational setting. Unlike “six-seven”, ““that particular meme” was never written on the whiteboard in lessons, so pupils were less able to adopt it.

I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will laugh with them if I unintentionally utter it, striving to empathise with them and appreciate that it’s merely pop culture. I believe they just want to enjoy that sensation of community and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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Nicholas Glenn
Nicholas Glenn

Elara Vance is a seasoned journalist and cultural critic, known for her engaging storytelling and deep dives into societal trends.