‘You just have to laugh’: several UK instructors on handling ‘six-seven’ in the educational setting

Around the UK, school pupils have been exclaiming the expression ““six-seven” during instruction in the most recent internet-inspired phenomenon to take over classrooms.

Whereas some educators have decided to patiently overlook the trend, different educators have incorporated it. Several teachers share how they’re coping.

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

Earlier in September, I had been addressing my secondary school class about preparing for their secondary school examinations in June. It escapes me specifically what it was in relation to, but I said words similar to “ … if you’re targeting grades six, seven …” and the whole class started chuckling. It caught me totally off guard.

My immediate assumption was that I’d made an hint at something rude, or that they detected something in my accent that appeared amusing. Somewhat exasperated – but truly interested and aware that they had no intention of being malicious – I asked them to explain. To be honest, the explanation they offered failed to create much difference – I still had no idea.

What could have rendered it extra funny was the weighing-up motion I had executed while speaking. Subsequently I discovered that this typically pairs with ““sixseven”: I had intended it to help convey the process of me speaking my mind.

With the aim of kill it off I aim to reference it as much as I can. No approach diminishes a phenomenon like this more effectively than an grown-up striving to join in.

‘Providing attention fuels the fire’

Understanding it assists so that you can avoid just unintentionally stating statements like “indeed, there were 6, 7 thousand people without work in Germany in 1933”. If the numerical sequence is inevitable, maintaining a strong student discipline system and requirements on student conduct is advantageous, as you can deal with it as you would any additional disruption, but I’ve not really been required to take that action. Guidelines are one thing, but if students buy into what the educational institution is practicing, they will become less distracted by the online trends (at least in instructional hours).

Concerning six-seven, I haven’t wasted any teaching periods, except for an occasional raised eyebrow and saying ““indeed, those are numerals, excellent”. When you provide oxygen to it, it transforms into a wildfire. I handle it in the equivalent fashion I would manage any other interruption.

Previously existed the mathematical meme phenomenon a few years ago, and there will no doubt be a new phenomenon following this. It’s what kids do. Back when I was youth, it was performing comedy characters impersonations (honestly out of the learning space).

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 enable them to their educational goals, which, hopefully, is coming out with academic achievements as opposed to a disciplinary record lengthy for the utilization of arbitrary digits.

‘Students desire belonging to a community’

Students use it like a unifying phrase in the recreation area: a pupil shouts it and the remaining students reply to indicate they’re part of the same group. It’s like a call-and-response or a sports cheer – an agreed language they share. In my view it has any distinct significance to them; they simply understand it’s a phenomenon to say. Whatever the current trend is, they want to experience belonging to it.

It’s prohibited in my teaching space, though – it’s a warning if they exclaim it – identical to any additional shouting out is. It’s particularly tricky in mathematics classes. But my students at primary level are children aged nine to ten, so they’re relatively adherent to the regulations, although I recognize that at high school it may be a different matter.

I have served as a teacher for 15 years, and such trends continue for a month or so. This trend will diminish in the near future – they always do, notably once their little brothers and sisters start saying it and it’s no longer trendy. Afterward they shall be focused on the next thing.

‘You just have to laugh with them’

I first detected it in August, while instructing in English at a language institute. It was primarily male students saying it. I instructed students from twelve to eighteen and it was prevalent among the junior students. I was unaware 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 at school.

The crazes are always shifting. “Skibidi toilet” was a well-known trend at the time when I was at my teacher preparation program, but it didn’t particularly appear as frequently in the educational setting. Unlike ““67”, “skibidi toilet” was not inscribed on the board in class, so pupils were less prepared to pick up on it.

I typically overlook it, or sometimes I will chuckle alongside them if I accidentally say it, trying to empathise with them and understand that it’s merely youth culture. I think they just want to feel that sense of belonging and companionship.

‘Humorous repetition has reduced its frequency’

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Travis Hays
Travis Hays

A passionate historian and casino enthusiast with over a decade of experience in vintage gaming and slot machine restoration.