The Dangers of Repeating Without Thinking

If you’ve spent time in our classrooms or walked the hallways recently, you may have heard it: students chanting, almost like a secret code, “Six-seven! Six-seven!” Teachers raise their eyebrows, students laugh, and parents scratch their heads. What does it mean? The surprising answer: nothing at all. “Six-seven” is just the latest viral social media trend—a catchy sound clip, a number repeated for no reason. Yet suddenly it is everywhere.

At first glance, it’s easy to dismiss this as harmless fun. After all, children have always had their fads and inside jokes. But in the context of a classical education, trends like this offer a teaching moment. They remind us that because of the pervasiveness of social media, it is easy—and dangerously appealing—for young minds to follow the crowd without pausing to think for themselves about what they are saying.

Classical education emphasizes the development of the whole person: mind, heart, and character. Central to that mission is teaching our children to reason, to question, and to engage with ideas thoughtfully. Repeating a meaningless phrase simply because “everyone else is doing it” runs counter to this aim. It is a small, seemingly innocuous example of a larger cultural phenomenon: the tendency to imitate without reflection.

The “six-seven” chant is, in a way, a perfect illustration of how social media spreads ideas—not by their truth or value, but by their catchiness. It rewards imitation over insight. When children participate in a trend simply because it is trending, they practice conformity rather than discernment. Over time, this pattern can make it much more difficult for them to develop the courage to think for themselves, to voice ideas that may not be popular, or to evaluate what is worthy of attention.

As parents and educators, we have an opportunity to guide our children through these moments. We can model curiosity, discernment, and the habit of reflection. Ask your children why they are repeating something, what it means, and whether it is worth their attention. Encourage discussion: why do some ideas stick while others fade? What does it mean to form your own judgment rather than follow the crowd? These questions are small steps toward cultivating minds that are thoughtful, confident, and resilient in the face of fleeting trends.

We also have to recognize our own role. Adults are not immune to the pull of repetition. From catchy slogans to viral news stories, we too can be swept along by the currents of popularity. When we pause and reflect, we teach children that thinking critically and speaking with intention are not burdens, but privileges.

In a classical school, we value the voices of our students. We also want them to understand that their voices must be their own. Trends like “six-seven” may be fleeting, but the lessons they present are lasting. They remind us why we read, discuss, and debate, why we study history and literature, and why we strive to cultivate virtue alongside knowledge. These practices are antidotes to the mindless repetition that social media often encourages.

Let us use the silliness of “six-seven” as an opportunity to teach our children the deeper lesson: that words have meaning, that thought matters, and that belonging is strongest when it is chosen, not imposed. By nurturing the ability to think for themselves, we equip our children to navigate life with discernment, integrity, and purpose. After all, the true measure of education is not how well our children can repeat what they hear—but how well they can stand apart, reason clearly, and speak with intention.