For most people, “67” is just a number. But not for students or teachers. The number has become a TikTok meme that’s fun for young people, yet has caused all sorts of issues for teachers who have to deal with kids who can’t stop blurting the number out. It’s become such a problem that many educators claim the meme is now a matter of control. But how and why? Let’s find out.
What “67” is
The “67” meme is quite literally a number. It comes from a rap track called “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla, which blew up on TikTok earlier this year. Soon came the edits. People began editing highlight videos of basketball players with the clips of the song, and then the number became a running gag that didn’t need explaining.
Most kids say the number in a funny way. They’ll usually say it rather quickly when a teacher mentions the number, and as soon as one person says it, the rest usually follow. Some kids write it on whiteboards or whisper it under their breath. They might also make it part of class slides. For some weird reason, they think it’s absolutely hilarious.
How it behaves in lessons
Most teachers say that the number comes out of nowhere. They could be counting papers, or reading a page number, perhaps just telling kids you’ll give them six or seven minutes to complete an activity. And then the room erupts into laughter.
Math classes are often the hardest hit by the meme because there are, obviously, lots of numbers. But that’s not to say that English and history teachers are safe. Some students wait all class for a chance to make a teacher say six or seven, just so they can yell it. It tends to derail the lesson for a good minute or two.
Why do teachers call it a control problem
So what do teachers mean when they call “67” a control problem? It’s quite literal. As soon as one kid says it, the rest can’t seem to stop, and this has forced some schools to get creative with punishments. Some of them make students write 67 words about why they shouldn’t disrupt the class.
Rather than trying to enforce harsh rules, they’re simply trying to get back a sense of order when the number takes over the room. Most teachers agree it’s not mean-spirited. The meme is simply disruptive enough to drive them nuts.
What schools are doing
Aside from punishments, a few schools have flat-out banned students from using the number in the classroom. Other places treat it like shouting out or talking over someone, meaning that teachers give students an automatic warning and then move on.
The goal is to just stop students from saying the number, which should prevent it from turning into a classroom disruption. But in some places, simply mentioning the ban makes students laugh even more.
Disruptions interfere with teaching time
American teachers have repeatedly said that they’re losing real instructional minutes from students disrupting the classroom in this way. A random chant like “67” may seem like nothing when it takes up a few minutes here. But then it takes a few minutes there. Soon enough, it leaves less time for actual instruction.
It’s not like teachers have a lot of padding time in their schedules anyway, as the bell still rings when it rings. The kids still rotate out. There’s no time to derail the class simply for a joke.
Teacher stress and behavior problems are linked
The meme is happening at the same time teacher stress has already been climbing. EdWeek polling in early 2023 found that most educators believe kids are misbehaving more compared to before the pandemic. These issues only get worse when a meme like “67” comes out of nowhere mid-lesson. It creates more problems on top of what’s already there.
That’s not to say that the chant is the entire cause of burnout, but it’s one more thing that stops the classroom from feeling calm. It causes teachers to lose their sense of control.
Inconsistent rule enforcement inside schools is another problem. Sure, one classroom could shut down the chant immediately. But the teacher in the classroom right after lunch might ignore it or brush it off. Students notice that gap.
Consistency matters more than intensity because a lack of consistency is exactly where many teachers claim they lose leverage. The simple act of yelling 67 causes the class to derail, and teachers no longer have any control. How are they meant to teach students?