The Problem of Common Sense

Kumashiro defines "common sense" as information we already know. Common sense is the knowledge that is passed on traditionally through cultures for generations as what we have always done/known. When Kumashiro was teaching in Nepal he was criticized and questioned on his teaching ability by students and staff because his common sense understanding of school and teaching in American was much different than what Nepali schools' understandings were. Kumashiro made it clear that common sense in one place may be completely different from common sense knowledge in another place. 

It is important to pay attention to common sense because it is what we are used to and what we believe we should be doing. Paying attention to common sense will allow us to break away from our sense of comfort and make us recognize that the values and perspectives we are continuing to teach and learn are oppressive. "What is significant here is the notion that oppression often plays out unrecognized and unchallenged in schools because it has successfully convinced us that schools are neutral, and non-oppressive, and should not be taking a stand one way or another on the issue of oppression."(Kumashiro, p. 5). If school systems never challenge the issue of oppression then the issue will never be solved and the disadvantaged students will never have positive school experiences. Becoming more aware of common sense will bring light to new perspectives and cause a shift in the way one thinks while possibly even encouraging one to take action to change the old ways. 

My common sense understanding of curriculum is what I know from my experiences in school. Curriculum to me is the academic outline of learning outcomes students are supposed to learn for that grade/level before moving on to the next grade. My common sense understanding of pedagogy is how teachers teach. As I have surface-level understandings, I hope to dive deeper into the meanings of both curriculum and pedagogy to have a greater understanding of anti-oppressive education. 

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