‘It’s impossible not to smile’: five UK teachers on handling ‘‘67’ in the classroom

Across the UK, students have been exclaiming the phrase ““67” during lessons in the newest meme-based trend to spread through schools.

Although some educators have chosen to stoically ignore the phenomenon, some have embraced it. Five instructors explain how they’re coping.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Earlier in September, I had been speaking with my secondary school class about getting ready for their qualification tests in June. I can’t remember exactly what it was in reference to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re aiming for results six, seven …” and the entire group burst out laughing. It caught me totally off guard.

My immediate assumption was that I had created an allusion to something rude, or that they’d heard something in my accent that appeared amusing. A bit exasperated – but honestly intrigued and mindful that they weren’t malicious – I persuaded them to elaborate. Frankly speaking, the description they offered didn’t make much difference – I still had little comprehension.

What could have rendered it particularly humorous was the evaluating movement I had executed while speaking. Subsequently I discovered that this frequently goes with ““67”: I had intended it to assist in expressing the action of me thinking aloud.

To end the trend I try to mention it as frequently as I can. Nothing reduces a phenomenon like this more effectively than an grown-up attempting to participate.

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

Being aware of it helps so that you can prevent just accidentally making statements like “for example, there existed 6, 7 hundred people without work in Germany in 1933”. In cases where the digit pairing is inevitable, having a strong student discipline system and standards on student conduct really helps, as you can address it as you would any different interruption, but I haven’t actually had to do that. Guidelines are necessary, but if learners accept what the educational institution is doing, they’ll be more focused by the internet crazes (particularly in class periods).

With six-seven, I haven’t lost any lesson time, other than for an periodic quizzical look and saying “yes, that’s a number, well done”. Should you offer focus on it, then it becomes a blaze. I treat it in the same way I would manage any other disturbance.

Earlier occurred the nine plus ten equals twenty-one phenomenon a while back, and undoubtedly there will emerge another craze following this. This is typical youth activity. When I was childhood, it was imitating Kevin and Perry impersonations (admittedly outside the school environment).

Students are unpredictable, and I believe it falls to the teacher to behave in a approach that guides them toward the path that will enable them toward their academic objectives, which, hopefully, is coming out with certificates rather than a disciplinary record a mile long for the utilization of random numbers.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

The children use it like a bonding chant in the playground: one says it and the other children answer to indicate they’re part of the equivalent circle. It’s like a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an shared vocabulary they possess. In my view it has any distinct importance to them; they merely recognize it’s a trend to say. Regardless of what the latest craze is, they want to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my classroom, however – it triggers a reminder if they call it out – identical to any different calling out is. It’s particularly difficult in numeracy instruction. But my students at fifth grade are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re quite adherent to the rules, whereas I appreciate that at secondary [school] it may be a different matter.

I have worked as a instructor for fifteen years, and such trends continue for a few weeks. This phenomenon will die out shortly – they always do, particularly once their younger siblings begin using it and it ceases to be trendy. Afterward they shall be on to the following phenomenon.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I started noticing it in August, while educating in English language at a foreign language school. It was primarily male students uttering it. I instructed students from twelve to eighteen and it was common within the junior students. I didn’t understand its significance at the time, but I’m 24 years old and I recognized it was simply an internet trend similar to when I was at school.

The crazes are continuously evolving. ““Skibidi” was a popular meme at the time when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it failed to exist as much in the learning environment. In contrast to ““sixseven”, ““that particular meme” was not inscribed on the chalkboard in class, so pupils were less equipped to embrace it.

I typically overlook it, or periodically I will laugh with them if I unintentionally utter it, attempting to empathise with them and understand that it’s simply contemporary trends. I believe they merely seek to feel that sense of belonging and camaraderie.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

I have worked in the {job|profession

Katrina Jennings
Katrina Jennings

A seasoned automation engineer with over a decade of experience in optimizing industrial processes and mentoring future innovators.