As discussed by Kumashiro in his introduction, common sense can be defined as the most routine and socially acceptable way of doing and interacting within each community, city, or country. Common sense goes unquestioned and are “things that everyone should know”, like schools being open every Monday to Friday and from September to June. Kumashiro reflected on his time in Nepal and about how the lone town faucet was used throughout the day was common sense to those who lived there, and similarly the practice of only two meals a day.

It is important to pay attention to the “common sense” when visiting different places to not create conflicts or infringe on anyone’s sense of comfort. Not following the commonplace rules and practices in a community may be seen as rude or disrespectful to the people who live there. For example, if Kumashiro would have used the town faucet to shower alone or to clean, he would be seen as wasteful in the community. When he tried using his way of teaching many students and teachers were frustrated because neither side was able to understand a new teaching philosophy.

This is my first class dealing with curriculum and pedagogy specifically but I do understand that curriculum in schools is the broad outline of what a teacher must cover in a year. The curriculum does not tell a teacher exactly what or how to teach their students, but simply gives the “Big Ideas”. There is also unwritten curriculum which tells students how to behave, how to share, as well as other basic social and emotional skills. Prior to our first lecture, I did not know what pedagogy was, but from that class I understand that it is how the teacher decides to teach, be it through lectures and note taking, hands on experience, or problem solving. Some teachers may like to have a set routine in their classroom while others are open to “changing things up” and trying different activities to engage their students.

Kumashiro. (2009). Against Common Sense: Teaching and Learning Toward Social Justice, pp. XXIX – XLI