‘You just have to laugh’: a quintet of UK teachers on coping with ‘‘67’ in the educational setting

Around the UK, school pupils have been calling out the expression ““67” during instruction in the latest meme-based trend to spread through classrooms.

While some teachers have opted to patiently overlook the craze, others have incorporated it. A group of teachers describe how they’re coping.

‘I believed I’d made an inappropriate comment’

During September, I had been addressing my eleventh grade class about getting ready for their qualification tests in June. I can’t remember specifically what it was in reference to, but I said a phrase resembling “ … if you’re targeting results six, seven …” and the complete classroom burst out laughing. It caught me completely by surprise.

My immediate assumption was that I had created an allusion to an inappropriate topic, or that they detected an element of my pronunciation that appeared amusing. Slightly exasperated – but honestly intrigued and aware that they had no intention of being hurtful – I got them to clarify. Honestly, the clarification they offered didn’t make greater understanding – I remained with little comprehension.

What possibly made it extra funny was the weighing-up gesture I had executed while speaking. I have since learned that this typically pairs with ““67”: I had intended it to help convey the process of me verbalizing thoughts.

To end the trend I aim to reference it as much as I can. Nothing diminishes a craze like this more thoroughly than an adult striving to get involved.

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

Being aware of it aids so that you can prevent just unintentionally stating remarks like “well, there were 6, 7 thousand unemployed people in Germany in 1933”. When the digit pairing is inevitable, possessing a strong student discipline system and standards on student conduct proves beneficial, as you can address it as you would any other interruption, but I haven’t actually needed to implement that. Guidelines are necessary, but if students buy into what the learning environment is implementing, they will become less distracted by the online trends (especially in instructional hours).

Concerning 67, I haven’t sacrificed any teaching periods, aside from an occasional quizzical look and commenting ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. Should you offer focus on it, it transforms into a blaze. I treat it in the same way I would treat any different disturbance.

Previously existed the nine plus ten equals twenty-one trend a previous period, and there will no doubt be a new phenomenon after this. That’s children’s behavior. When I was growing up, it was performing television personalities impressions (honestly out of the school environment).

Children are unforeseeable, and In my opinion it’s an adult’s job to behave in a manner that guides them toward the direction that will get them toward their academic objectives, which, with luck, is completing their studies with certificates as opposed to a disciplinary record lengthy for the employment of arbitrary digits.

‘Children seek inclusion in social circles’

Students utilize it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: a student calls it and the other children answer to demonstrate they belong to the same group. It’s like a verbal exchange or a sports cheer – an common expression they use. I believe it has any particular importance to them; they merely recognize it’s a phenomenon to say. Regardless of what the newest phenomenon is, they seek to feel part of it.

It’s prohibited in my learning environment, however – it triggers a reminder if they exclaim it – just like any other verbal interruption is. It’s notably challenging in maths lessons. But my class at fifth grade are pre-teens, so they’re quite adherent to the rules, whereas I recognize that at high school it could be a separate situation.

I have worked as a educator for fifteen years, and such trends last for three or four weeks. This phenomenon will die out soon – it invariably occurs, especially once their younger siblings start saying it and it’s no longer cool. Afterward they shall be on to the next thing.

‘Occasionally sharing the humor is essential’

I began observing it in August, while instructing in English at a language institute. It was mainly male students uttering it. I taught students from twelve to eighteen and it was prevalent among the less experienced learners. I didn’t understand its meaning at the time, but as a young adult and I understood it was simply an internet trend comparable to when I attended classes.

Such phenomena are constantly changing. ““Toilet meme” was a familiar phenomenon at the time when I was at my educational institute, but it didn’t really occur as often in the educational setting. Unlike ““67”, ““the skibidi trend” was not inscribed on the board in instruction, so students were less able to adopt it.

I typically overlook it, or occasionally I will smile with the students if I unintentionally utter it, attempting to relate to them and recognize that it’s merely youth culture. In my opinion they simply desire to feel that sense of belonging and companionship.

‘Lighthearted usage has diminished its occurrence’

I’ve done the {job|profession

Lisa Mora
Lisa Mora

A seasoned software engineer and tech writer passionate about simplifying complex concepts for learners worldwide.

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