Respond to the following writing prompt: How does Kumashiro define ‘common sense?’ Why is it so important to pay attention to the ‘common sense’?

In the article, The Problem of Common Sense, Kumashiro defines common sense, as what “should be” something that appears to be “a norm” or a standard for the society, (example summer break). Common sense in education is what the dominate society has set, in what students “should be doing’, and “should be learning. When, this common-sense approach is used, it reflects traditional normalcy provided only by the perspectives, experiences of certain people in the society at large. When schools look at teaching what “could be” instead of “should be”, views and questions of normalcy are confronted and could be viewed as abnormal, useless and dismissed.  This adoptive perspective of common sense has become so ingrained, routine and commonplace, that is has gone unquestioned for so long. 

Common sense is important to know and understand as it will guide decisions and develop perspectives. It is vital to go beyond the normalcy of the established perspectives of “common sense” established only by certain groups of people in society. Yes, common sense gives comfort because of the humanistic need for normalcy, but define normalcy. Understand that bias will exist, develop a common sense that will foster the norms of differences, that will support perspectives of all, go beyond all isms (racism, sexism….). Challenge the “status quo” by adopting a diversified “status quo”. This will allow a universal feeling which comes from knowing what “common sense” looks like without oppression or bias. Challenge what “common sense could be and by paying attention to the traditional “common sense” will foster knowledge, along with learning that will become in all purposes an “inclusive sense”.