What is behind Gen Alpha’s latest catchphrase? School children across the globe are blurting out the numbers “six” and “seven” with an accompanying hand gesture that imitates juggling.
The phrase is yelled out spontaneously or when someone says “six”, someone else may shout “seven”.
It’s led educators to ban the term, saying that it has become a distraction in classrooms.
The expression has become so prolific that it was featured in last week’s South Park episode, Twisted Christian.
In the episode, children repeat the words “six” and “seven” until they are visited by tech investor Peter Thiel, who declares a state of emergency in the school.
Where did the 6-7 phrase come from and should parents be worried?
The term 6-7 is thought to derive from Skrilla’s song “Doot Doot (67).” The rapper could be using the lyric to reference a police radio code, 67th Street or something else, according to The Guardian.
The track gained popularity through TikTok and Instagram videos featuring NBA player LaMelo Ball, who is 6ft 7in.
It looks like the origin of the term is innocuous, but teachers say that the phrase has started to disrupt lessons.
“It’s like a plague – a virus that has taken over these kids’ minds,” Gabe Dannenbring, a seventh-grade science teacher in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, told CNN.
Meanwhile, Adria Laplander, a sixth-grade language arts teacher in Michigan, told Today.com: “I’ve been teaching for 20 years and I’ve dealt with all sorts of slang — nothing has driven me crazier than this one.”
How have teachers responded?
Teachers have taken different approaches to control their classes. Laplander became so frustrated that she made a TikTok video, outlining her punishment who say the phrase.
“We are not saying the words, ‘67’ anymore — if you do, you have to write a 67-word essay about … what the word ‘67’ means,” Laplander said. “If you do it again, another 67-word essay. After five times, if you’re still saying, ‘67’ in this classroom, your essay is going to bop up to 670 words.”
Meanwhile, a math teacher who calls herself Miss Gemnini on TikTok, cautioned students that saying the phrase could lose them 67 digital points, which are rewarded for good behavior.
“My goal with this is that you build some self-control and don’t feel the need to shout it out every five seconds,” she told her class in the video. “It’s getting a little ridiculous.”
Monica Choflet, a New Jersey fourth-grade teacher, told NBC Los Angeles that she makes pupils who use the phrase write “I will not say ‘67’ in class” up to 67 times.”
“They thought I was kidding but once I made them write it for homework, they said, ‘Whoa, you were serious!’” Choflet said.
She’s also created a playful “call and response” activity to refocus her students, in which she shouts “6” and they reply “7”.
However, Choflet said she appreciates the humour of the inside joke — and teachers have begun to catch on too.
“A co-worker and I went to a Bingo fundraiser and they called out ‘G-67,’” Chofle said.. “We looked at each other and said, ‘67.’”
