‘Sometimes you’ve got to chuckle’: several UK educators on handling ‘‘sixseven’ in the educational setting

Across the UK, school pupils have been exclaiming the phrase ““67” during classes in the most recent meme-based craze to sweep across classrooms.

Whereas some teachers have decided to stoically ignore the craze, others have accepted it. Several teachers explain how they’re dealing.

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

Back in September, I had been addressing my year 11 class about getting ready for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall precisely what it was in reference to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re working to grades six, seven …” and the whole class started chuckling. It caught me entirely unexpectedly.

My initial reaction was that I had created an reference to an offensive subject, or that they’d heard something in my pronunciation that sounded funny. A bit annoyed – but truly interested and mindful that they weren’t malicious – I asked them to elaborate. Frankly speaking, the clarification they offered failed to create much difference – I remained with minimal understanding.

What might have rendered it extra funny was the weighing-up gesture I had made while speaking. I later discovered that this often accompanies ““67”: I had intended it to help convey the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

In order to end the trend I attempt to reference it as often as I can. No approach diminishes a trend like this more emphatically than an adult attempting to get involved.

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

Understanding it aids so that you can prevent just unintentionally stating statements like “well, there were 6, 7 hundred jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. When the number combination is inevitable, possessing a rock-solid student discipline system and requirements on pupil behavior proves beneficial, as you can sanction it as you would any additional disruption, but I rarely needed to implement that. Rules are important, but if learners buy into what the educational institution is doing, they will become less distracted by the internet crazes (especially in instructional hours).

With 67, I haven’t sacrificed any teaching periods, except for an periodic raised eyebrow and commenting “yes, that’s a number, well done”. If you give oxygen to it, then it becomes an inferno. I handle it in the identical manner I would manage any additional disruption.

Previously existed the 9 + 10 = 21 trend a while back, and there will no doubt be another craze following this. That’s children’s behavior. When I was growing up, it was imitating comedy characters mimicry (truthfully outside the classroom).

Young people are unpredictable, and I believe it’s an adult’s job to respond in a manner that guides them toward the course that will get them where they need to go, which, with luck, is coming out with certificates instead of a disciplinary record extensive for the utilization of meaningless numerals.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

Young learners utilize it like a bonding chant in the recreation area: a student calls it and the others respond to show they are the equivalent circle. It’s like a verbal exchange or a stadium slogan – an common expression they share. I believe it has any particular importance to them; they just know it’s a trend to say. Whatever the newest phenomenon is, they seek to feel part of it.

It’s forbidden in my teaching space, nevertheless – it triggers a reminder if they exclaim it – just like any different calling out is. It’s especially difficult in maths lessons. But my students at fifth grade are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re relatively adherent to the guidelines, while I recognize that at secondary [school] it may be a different matter.

I have worked as a educator for fifteen years, and these phenomena continue for three or four weeks. This phenomenon will fade away in the near future – they always do, especially once their little brothers and sisters start saying it and it stops being trendy. Subsequently they will be focused on the following phenomenon.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I began observing it in August, while instructing in English at a international school. It was mainly young men saying it. I educated ages 12 to 18 and it was prevalent with the less experienced learners. I didn’t understand what it was at the time, but as a young adult and I understood it was merely a viral phenomenon comparable to when I was a student.

Such phenomena are always shifting. ““Toilet meme” was a familiar phenomenon back when I was at my training school, but it didn’t really appear as frequently in the educational setting. Unlike ““67”, ““that particular meme” was not scribbled on the whiteboard in instruction, so learners were less equipped to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or periodically I will smile with the students if I inadvertently mention it, striving to empathise with them and recognize that it’s merely youth culture. I believe they merely seek to feel that sense of community and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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