US and UK teachers ban viral slang term 67 after classroom disruption

Teachers in the United States and Britain are moving to ban a viral slang term known as "67" after it began interrupting lessons this school year, with some educators disciplining pupils who use the chant or its accompanying hand gesture. The expression, which often takes the form of one student saying "six" and others replying "seven" or of students shouting "67" together, has spread through social media and schoolyards and several teachers say it has become a persistent classroom distraction.

The phrase traces to rapper Skrilla's track "Doot Doot 6 7" and gained wider attention through short videos and memes that referenced a 6 foot 7 inch basketball player and clips involving NBA player LaMelo Ball. In practice, students sometimes pair the numbers with a juggling-hands gesture or a related emoji. Some young people use it as a nonspecific in-joke meaning something like "above average" or "whatever," while other contexts signal awkwardness.

Teachers report a range of responses aimed at restoring order. Adria Laplander, a sixth grade language arts teacher in Michigan, said she has required any student who utters the term or makes the gesture to write a 67-word essay on what the...