Throughout my schooling, I have seen and been subject to the Tyler rationale.  I had always felt I was just a number in a classroom, not a student who learned differently. Tests and essays were the main forms of evaluation. These types of evaluations are stressful and daunting for high school students and do not give a good chance to show knowledge. Well in middle school and elementary, I would find myself falling behind in classes but didn’t see how my teacher could help. The feeling of being rushed was present throughout all of my schooling. I would just start to understand the topic then we move on to a brand new topic. Now with my knowledge of the Tyler rationale, my teachers were being paid to teach knowledge in the most efficient way possible.

The school system didn’t prepare me for life after high school. When I got out of high school I could take tests, write essays and know how to cram for a test but didn’t teach me how to do a job interview or how to save money. The Tyler rationale focused on students pumped out students who followed the rule, came to class on time, didn’t miss class, and were good test takers. This limits students to the idea that the only thing to do after high school is college or university. The Tyler rationale is only made for one perfect type of student and leaves those who don’t fall into that category to fall behind and feel as if school is not a place they belong. This type of schooling leaves many limitations for most children throughout their whole life.

There are some benefits to having such a structured curriculum and schooling system. Structure does help students learn how to behaviours they will need throughout life. Having a structured pace does insure students will be prepared for the next grades to come. This timeline of school does give students the chance to have hiccups in their life before they are adults. Having students work in classrooms with other students their age helps students gain social skills by working and socializing with their peers. The student-teacher relationship also helps students gain social skills with adults.

Kumashiro defines common sense as the norms a culture or society has come to expect in everyday life. Common sense is looks different in every culture, society and geographical region. What we may see as common sense in the class room maybe unheard of in an other countries school system. Paying attention to the common sense can help you become a part of a culture or society but not all common sense practices are something to conform to. Many common sense practices are oppressive and outdated. Paying attention to the common sense can be a way of changing your views and values as an educator and member or society. My common sense of the curriculum is mostly based off of what I have experienced in schools. The curriculum should be followed and it is the only way to succeed throughout schooling. My common sense understanding of pedagogy is very little and was not something I saw or maybe noticed in my years of schooling.