‘Sometimes you’ve got to chuckle’: several UK educators on dealing with ‘‘67’ in the school environment

Throughout the UK, school pupils have been exclaiming the words ““six-seven” during lessons in the latest viral trend to spread through schools.

While some educators have opted to calmly disregard the trend, different educators have embraced it. A group of educators share how they’re coping.

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

Earlier in September, I had been speaking with my secondary school class about preparing for their qualification tests in June. I don’t recall exactly what it was in connection with, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re aiming for results six, seven …” and the complete classroom burst out laughing. It took me entirely unexpectedly.

My first thought was that I had created an hint at an offensive subject, or that they detected an element of my speech pattern that seemed humorous. Somewhat annoyed – but genuinely curious and mindful that they weren’t hurtful – I asked them to explain. Honestly, the explanation they offered failed to create greater understanding – I still had no idea.

What might have caused it to be especially amusing was the weighing-up gesture I had executed while speaking. Subsequently I learned that this frequently goes with “six-seven”: My purpose was it to help convey the action of me verbalizing thoughts.

To end the trend I aim to bring it up as often as I can. No strategy diminishes a craze like this more thoroughly than an grown-up striving to participate.

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

Being aware of it assists so that you can avoid just blundering into statements like “well, there were 6, 7 million jobless individuals in Germany in 1933”. When the numerical sequence is inevitable, maintaining a rock-solid classroom conduct rules and requirements on student conduct is advantageous, as you can address it as you would any additional disturbance, but I haven’t actually needed to implement that. Guidelines are necessary, but if students accept what the school is practicing, they’ll be more focused by the internet crazes (especially in class periods).

With six-seven, I haven’t lost any lesson time, other than for an occasional eyebrow raise and commenting “yes, that’s a number, well done”. When you provide attention to it, then it becomes a blaze. I treat it in the same way I would handle any additional disturbance.

Earlier occurred the nine plus ten equals twenty-one phenomenon a few years ago, and there will no doubt be a new phenomenon subsequently. It’s what kids do. Back when I was childhood, it was performing television personalities impersonations (admittedly away from the learning space).

Young people are unforeseeable, and I believe it’s the educator’s responsibility to react in a approach that steers them back to the path that will help them to their educational goals, which, fingers crossed, is graduating 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 employ it like a bonding chant in the schoolyard: one says it and the remaining students reply to show they are the identical community. It’s like a verbal exchange or a stadium slogan – an shared vocabulary they share. In my view it has any specific significance to them; they merely recognize it’s a phenomenon to say. Regardless of what the latest craze is, they desire to feel part of it.

It’s banned in my learning environment, nevertheless – it triggers a reminder if they call it out – identical to any additional shouting out is. It’s notably challenging in maths lessons. But my pupils at fifth grade are nine to 10-year-olds, so they’re quite accepting of the regulations, while I understand that at high school it might be a different matter.

I have worked as a educator for fifteen years, and such trends last for three or four weeks. This trend will diminish shortly – this consistently happens, notably once their younger siblings begin using it and it ceases to be fashionable. Then they’ll be engaged with the next thing.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I began observing it in August, while teaching English at a language institute. It was mostly male students saying it. I educated ages 12 to 18 and it was common among the less experienced learners. I had no idea its significance at the time, but being twenty-four and I realised it was simply an internet trend comparable to when I attended classes.

These trends are always shifting. ““Skibidi” was a well-known trend during the period when I was at my educational institute, but it didn’t particularly appear as frequently in the educational setting. Unlike ““sixseven”, ““that particular meme” was never written on the chalkboard in lessons, so pupils were less able to adopt it.

I typically overlook it, or sometimes I will chuckle alongside them if I inadvertently mention it, trying to empathise with them and recognize that it’s merely pop culture. In my opinion they just want to enjoy that sensation of belonging and camaraderie.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

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Alexis Anthony
Alexis Anthony

A passionate writer and performance coach dedicated to helping others unlock their full potential through actionable advice.