“6-7! 6-7!” Chances are, you heard your friends utter this seemingly nonsensical phrase throughout the course of this academic year while aggressively pumping their hands up and down. ‘6-7’ became so popular that, despite being a number, it was named dictionary.com’s word of the year for 2025. As we embark on a new year, it is time to look at how education majors are navigating a craze that has captivated America’s schools.
So, where did ‘6-7’ come from? In 2024, rap artist Skrilla released a single entitled “Doot Doot (6-7)”, which contains the lyrics “The way that switch brrt, I know he dyin’, 6-7”, referencing code 10-67, which police use to report deaths. In March 12-year-old Maverick Trevillian earned the “6-7 kid” title online after a video of him making a juggling motion with his hands while saying “6-7” went insanely viral. Clips of people doing the same later flooded social media. The trend quickly became a classroom punchline, even getting the South Park treatment in their Season 28 premiere “Twisted Christian”. As we embark on a new year, it is time to look at how education majors are navigating a craze that has captivated America’s schools.
Education majors on campus have differing views on the craze, with some rejecting it while others try to embrace it. Kent Huth, a junior music education major, is hesitant to mix the trend into his teaching. “When I was doing my observed lesson in early November, I told my group of 7th and 8th-grade students, ‘Okay, we’re going to do just measure six and measure seven,’ and I sighed and waited for the inevitable, which didn’t end up happening. Reluctantly, I did the hand motion, sighed very deeply, and continued with the lesson,” Huth said.
Huth also acknowledges that teachers simply might need to live with “6-7” as a fact of daily life though. “It’s one of those things you have to deal with, then move on from. If you bring it up, they’ll keep doing it. If you don’t bring it up, they’ll keep doing it. It’s the right amount of ‘Okay, it’s a thing that happens, let’s move on.’”
Contrarily, a sophomore elementary education major is aiming to embrace “6-7” and integrate it into his teaching. “I just think of it as numbers,” said the student. “I know it’s going to happen, and I plan accordingly.” However, he also states the need for moderation. “The math problems start out with having it be used, 6-7, but then don’t use it again.” He also stated his awareness about how this could be perceived by students and staff, acknowledging it can be seen as a forced attempt to relate to the younger generations.
6-7 has its lovers and haters, but the trend reminds us that students have a major influence on their classroom culture and highlights the interplay between education and pop culture.