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Around the UK, school pupils have been exclaiming the expression ““67” during classes in the newest internet-inspired phenomenon to spread through educational institutions.

While some instructors have chosen to calmly disregard the phenomenon, others have embraced it. Five educators describe how they’re managing.

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

Back in September, I had been addressing my eleventh grade students about getting ready for their secondary school examinations in June. I can’t remember exactly what it was in connection with, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re targeting results six, seven …” and the complete classroom burst out laughing. It surprised me completely by surprise.

My initial reaction was that I had created an allusion to something rude, or that they detected an element of my pronunciation that seemed humorous. Somewhat annoyed – but honestly intrigued and aware that they weren’t malicious – I asked them to elaborate. Frankly speaking, the explanation they provided didn’t make much difference – I continued to have no idea.

What possibly caused it to be particularly humorous was the considering gesture I had executed while speaking. Subsequently I learned that this often accompanies ““67”: I meant it to aid in demonstrating the act of me verbalizing thoughts.

In order to eliminate it I aim to mention it as often as I can. No approach diminishes a phenomenon like this more emphatically than an adult striving to join in.

‘Feeding the trend creates a blaze’

Knowing about it aids so that you can prevent just blundering into remarks like “indeed, there were 6, 7 million unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is unavoidable, possessing a strong classroom conduct rules and requirements on learner demeanor proves beneficial, as you can deal with it as you would any other disturbance, but I’ve not really needed to implement that. Policies are necessary, but if students accept what the educational institution is doing, they will become less distracted by the online trends (especially in lesson time).

With 67, I haven’t sacrificed any instructional minutes, other than for an infrequent eyebrow raise and stating “yes, that’s a number, well done”. When you provide oxygen to it, it transforms into an inferno. I treat it in the identical manner I would manage any other interruption.

There was the 9 + 10 = 21 phenomenon a few years ago, and there will no doubt be another craze subsequently. That’s children’s behavior. When I was youth, it was doing comedy characters mimicry (admittedly outside the classroom).

Students are spontaneous, and I think it falls to the teacher to react in a approach that guides them toward the course that will help them toward their academic objectives, which, hopefully, is completing their studies with qualifications rather than a conduct report extensive for the employment of meaningless numerals.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

The children utilize it like a unifying phrase in the playground: a student calls it and the remaining students reply to show they are the same group. It’s similar to a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an shared vocabulary they possess. I don’t think it has any particular significance to them; they merely recognize it’s a thing to say. Regardless of what the latest craze is, they want to be included in it.

It’s banned in my teaching space, nevertheless – it’s a warning if they exclaim it – similar to any other calling out is. It’s notably difficult in mathematics classes. But my pupils at fifth grade are children aged nine to ten, so they’re quite compliant with the guidelines, whereas I understand that at secondary [school] it might be a distinct scenario.

I have served as a teacher for a decade and a half, and these phenomena persist for a few weeks. This trend will fade away soon – it invariably occurs, notably once their junior family members begin using it and it ceases to be fashionable. Then they’ll be focused on the subsequent trend.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I started noticing it in August, while educating in English language at a international school. It was mainly young men saying it. I educated teenagers and it was common within the junior students. I had no idea its significance at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I understood it was just a meme akin to when I attended classes.

Such phenomena are always shifting. ““Toilet meme” was a popular meme back when I was at my training school, but it didn’t really occur as often in the educational setting. Unlike “six-seven”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the board in class, so students were less equipped to pick up on it.

I simply disregard it, or occasionally I will smile with the students if I accidentally say it, striving to understand them and understand that it is just contemporary trends. In my opinion they merely seek to enjoy that sensation of togetherness and friendship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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