Kumashuro describes common sense as something that is related to the environment of which an individual or group of people has familiarized themselves with, related to the surroundings, cultures, and ideologies that they have encountered up to that point in their lives. Kumashuro assumes that common sense is something everyone should know and is universal. It is crucial to realize and acknowledge that common sense and its applications will vary based on the geographical locations of the world and the people that occupy them. As stated, “commonsensical ideas are often what help us to make sense of and feel at ease with the things that get repeated in our everyday lives” (35). This quote in particular is important to recognize when considering that there are 7 different continents in the world, boasting many diverse cultures and various practices that include forms of “everyday life” but do not necessarily apply to all people in a society. In order to empathize with Kumashuro, we must first be able to identify the cultural differences that may be present for the individual and their audience, and recognize the changes or shifts that might arise in order to be a leader.

 

Deconstructing the implied one size fits all approach to “common sense” is a crucial step in allowing people to feel valued and included in what they are familiar with, in a situation where an individual may feel oppressed. We cannot assume a blanket term such as common sense is at the forefront of everybody’s minds, because that is not realistic when we consider the diversity of the world in which we now live and grow in. When we observe Kumashuro’s introduction to life in the new community, we might observe they have a little prior understanding of what is expected based on past life experiences, allowing them to adapt to certain aspects of teaching styles and habits. But in the larger picture of the recently changed location of where Kumashuro is now, it is evident there is not the same set of rules, societal expectations, practices and concepts of knowledge they had been familiar with in their own development. We need to expand our social horizons and adapt a way of thinking that allows for plural approaches to creating and transmitting knowledge in order to redefine “traditional” ways of the past. 

In the current world we live in, our teaching identities and strategies need to acknowledge and aim to reflect the diverse populations that we have in our school systems today. I am a strong believer in adapting culturally compatible lesson plans based on the demographics of an area or location to suit the needs of the learners with the best possible effort and contribution from administration, teachers, community members, and the government. There is a guideline that is implemented by the government, but teachers do have the ability to adjust and accommodate different ways of knowing and being to provide a more inclusive approach of teaching.