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Around the UK, learners have been exclaiming the phrase ““67” during lessons in the newest internet-inspired craze to sweep across classrooms.

While some instructors have decided to stoically ignore the phenomenon, different educators have accepted it. Five teachers share how they’re coping.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

Earlier in September, I had been speaking with my eleventh grade tutor group about studying for their GCSE exams in June. It escapes me exactly what it was in relation to, but I said something like “ … if you’re aiming for marks six, seven …” and the whole class erupted in laughter. It took me completely by surprise.

My initial reaction was that I’d made an hint at something rude, or that they detected a quality in my speech pattern that appeared amusing. A bit annoyed – but honestly intrigued and aware that they had no intention of being malicious – I asked them to clarify. Frankly speaking, the explanation they then gave failed to create greater understanding – I continued to have minimal understanding.

What possibly caused it to be especially amusing was the evaluating motion I had made while speaking. I have since discovered that this typically pairs with ““67”: I had intended it to aid in demonstrating the act of me verbalizing thoughts.

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

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Knowing about it assists so that you can avoid just blundering into comments like “indeed, there were 6, 7 million jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. If the digit pairing is unpreventable, having a firm classroom conduct rules and standards on student conduct is advantageous, as you can sanction it as you would any additional interruption, but I’ve not really been required to take that action. Policies are necessary, but if learners buy into what the school is implementing, they will remain better concentrated by the internet crazes (especially in instructional hours).

With sixseven, I haven’t wasted any lesson time, except for an occasional eyebrow raise and saying ““correct, those are digits, good job”. Should you offer focus on it, it evolves into a blaze. I handle it in the equivalent fashion I would handle any other interruption.

There was the mathematical meme craze a previous period, and there will no doubt be a different trend following this. It’s what kids do. During my own childhood, it was doing Kevin and Perry impersonations (admittedly out of the classroom).

Young people are spontaneous, and I think it’s an adult’s job to behave in a manner that redirects them in the direction of the course that will enable them where they need to go, which, with luck, is coming out with qualifications instead of a behaviour list extensive for the utilization of random numbers.

‘They want to feel a part of a group’

Young learners use it like a unifying phrase in the schoolyard: one says it and the remaining students reply to show they are the same group. It’s like a interactive chant or a sports cheer – an agreed language they possess. I don’t think it has any specific significance to them; they just know it’s a trend to say. Regardless of what the latest craze is, they desire to experience belonging to it.

It’s banned in my classroom, however – it’s a warning if they exclaim it – just like any other calling out is. It’s notably challenging in mathematics classes. But my pupils at fifth grade are children aged nine to ten, so they’re relatively accepting of the regulations, although I understand that at secondary [school] it may be a separate situation.

I have worked as a instructor for a decade and a half, and these crazes continue for a month or so. This trend will diminish soon – this consistently happens, notably once their little brothers and sisters begin using it and it ceases to be trendy. Subsequently they will be focused on the following phenomenon.

‘Sometimes joining the laughter is necessary’

I began observing it in August, while teaching English at a language institute. It was mostly young men uttering it. I taught teenagers and it was prevalent among the less experienced learners. I didn’t understand its meaning at the time, but being twenty-four and I understood it was simply an internet trend akin to when I was at school.

The crazes are always shifting. “Skibidi toilet” was a popular meme back when I was at my educational institute, but it didn’t particularly exist as much in the classroom. Unlike ““67”, “skibidi toilet” was not scribbled on the board in instruction, so learners were less able to adopt it.

I just ignore it, or occasionally I will laugh with them if I accidentally say it, trying to understand them and appreciate that it’s simply pop culture. I think they merely seek to experience that feeling of togetherness and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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