Common Sense

Kumashiro defines common sense as “what everyone should know” (2009, p. XXIX). As he learned, it is a thing that is common to a group of people, not to all of humanity. However we as Westerners can often, if not most of the time, treat our own “common sense” as if it were the basis of evolved human life, referring to places that resemble our past practices as “behind” or “third-world.” It is important to pay attention to common sense for two reasons: survival and progress.

In order to live well in Nepal, Kumashiro had to learn what everyone there already knew, for example the proper use of the public water supply. More applicable to our current shared experience is the need to be aware of “common sense” for the sake of progress. If we don’t question things because “that’s the way we’ve always done it,” we will never move forward. Being stuck in the past frequently means being stuck in oppressive beliefs and tendencies, all of which can be newly shaped and advanced to value and honour every human reality present in our society and beyond.

Source:

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