What is Common Sense in Link to Curriculum?
As a growing teacher and educator, I have found myself connecting common words to the education system. Common Sense being one of them. Thanks to Kumashiro, otherwise known as the author of ‘The Problem of Common Sense,” for all the knowledge I have gained in just seven pages.
The definition of common sense can be defined as “not what schools could be doing, but rather what they should be doing” (Kumashiro, 35). In all honesty I have been aware of the ways education systems need to improve, grow and develop to be more inclusive and respectful schools. The relationship to common sense and schools go hand in hand. The value of a teacher’s willingness and awareness of common sense is important because we need to see all the ways our schools are failing some students and oppressed groups. Common sense truly does have its essential role in the improving and striving education system, and all members involved need to be aware of this outcome too.
An interesting thing about common sense and the school system is how there are four approaches to increasing the use of common sense in the classroom. One of the approaches being “focused on challenging the knowledge that all students have about people in this world who have traditionally been located differently” (Kumashiro, Para 23). In other words, if we want our education system to change for the better at all, using common sense approaches is striving in the right direction.
As a growing educator my knowledge on curriculum and pedagogy stayed close to the basics and common understandings of the words. Before the definition of curriculum is as follows, it has all the outcomes and objectives on knowledge, teachers are in charge of developing their students. Pedagogy was seen as the big ideas of a teacher and a teacher’s personal identity when teaching others. In other words my knowledge in both pedagogy and curriculum is in dire need of some expanding and learning! Which is completely okay, teachers need to learn too!