How does Kumashiro define ‘common sense’?

Kumashiro describes common sense as something everyone should know and is expected to know; something we do not question but rather expect. Kumashiro pulls from his teaching career in the Peace Corp. in Nepal. He looks at common sense from two different points of view. One from the people in Nepal and the other view as an American teacher. Kumashiro struggled to adjust to day to day life in Nepal something the Nepali defined as common sense and something everyone should know. On the opposite end of common sense spectrum was Kumashiro experiences in the classroom. He held the common-sense view of an American teacher who was there to help, and teach more effectively. It was clear that the concept of common sense was very different between the students in his classroom and Kumashiro as a teacher.

Why is it so important to pay attention to the ‘common sense’?

Common sense can be problematic because it can lead to oppressive behaviour and can limit alternative perceptions. Kumashiro references research that suggests what is taught in school commonly reflects the experiences for people who experience privilege in their lives (Kumashiro, 2009). Additionally, common sense masks the fact that what we consider the status quo is quite oppressive. When we embrace common sense we leave little to no room for battling oppressive behaviour which tends to plague our system.

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