The Enigmatic Rise of 'Six-Seven' in UK Schools

crypto In recent weeks, UK classrooms have become the unlikely battleground for a viral phenomenon known as the "six-seven" meme. Described by educators as "the most brain dead meme," this phrase has perplexed teachers while capturing the attention of students, who have taken to painting the numbers on their faces. With a significant number of teachers reporting its prevalence, the question looms: what exactly does "six-seven" mean?

A survey conducted with 10,000 teachers revealed that an astounding 80% of secondary school educators had encountered the viral phrase just last week. The trend is even more pronounced among younger teachers, with 90% acknowledging its use in their classrooms. Primary school teachers have not been immune either; around 50% of those working with the youngest students noted they had heard the term being used.

Mathematics teachers appear to bear the brunt of this meme's influence, likely due to the frequent appearance of the numbers six and seven in their lessons. However, the disruption extends beyond math, as teachers from various subjects report that any mention of page 67, the year 1967, or phrases involving sixes or sevens triggers a chaotic response from students. Even physical education instructors find themselves caught up in the frenzy.

The Enigmatic Rise of 'Six-Seven' in UK Schools According to the Teacher Tapp polling app, students have even requested to have "six-seven" painted on their faces in preparation for half-term school discos. A spokesperson for Teacher Tapp commented, "Six-seven is everywhere but especially in the maths classrooms, and classroom teachers are getting it the most. But what does it mean? No one knows. Not even the young teachers." This sentiment was echoed by a maths teacher from a London school who, frustrated with the phrase's frequent use, stated, "It’s the most brain dead meme in the history of brain dead memes, it’s meaningless and it is just an excuse for some children to make noise."

The situation seems even more chaotic across the Atlantic. Reports from the Wall Street Journal indicate that teachers in the United States are avoiding grouping students into sizes of six or seven to prevent the inevitable eruption of the chant. One Texas teacher recounted, "If you’re like, 'Hey, you need to do questions six, seven,' they just immediately start yelling: 'Six-seven!' It’s like throwing catnip at cats."

In the UK, reactions among headteachers vary. Some adopt a more relaxed approach, choosing to let the craze run its course. Caroline Lowing, a headteacher in Hampshire, remarked, "As with every craze, we just tend to ride the wave until it dies down. In my opinion, it will be over soon and we move on to the next thing."

Ignite Curiosity: Nurturing a Passion for Lifelong Learning The phrase "six-seven," pronounced as "six sevvv-an" and often accompanied by a distinctive up-and-down hand motion, surged in popularity after a video featuring a content creator at a US basketball game went viral earlier this year. Although its exact meaning remains ambiguous—ranging from a simple expression of indifference to a recognition of the numbers—it is undeniably popular among students. Yet, most educators surveyed admitted they could not accurately explain what it meant. Among the younger teachers, those in their 20s, barely half expressed confidence in their understanding.

The Teacher Tapp survey indicated that "six-seven" has successfully dethroned last year’s meme champion among students, which was the "skibidi" meme—short for skibidi toilet, a reference to an animated series featuring toilets with human heads. However, "skibidi" lacked the classroom disruption factor associated with the numbers six, seven, or 67 appearing during lessons. Looking ahead, the survey suggests that the slang term "cooked" or "cook," meaning to continue or finish, is gaining traction, with nearly half of secondary teachers reporting its use last week.

As the six-seven meme continues to reverberate throughout UK schools, it highlights the ever-changing landscape of pupil behaviour and classroom dynamics. While teachers grapple with its disruptive presence, students revel in the viral moment that has captured their imagination. Whether this trend will fade away or evolve into something new remains to be seen, but for now, it’s clear that the six-seven phenomenon is a force to be reckoned with in education.