The Problem of Common Sense

In the article by Kumashiro (2009), common sense can be defined as something that everyone should know. I believe that it is important to realize that common sense differs for everyone. What you may see as common sense is likely not what others will view as common sense. As teachers, it is important to understand that not all of our students will have the same understanding on ‘common sense’ as we do. I believe that one of the major factors in understanding common sense is viewing location. As teachers, there is a strong possibility that we will not remain in the same school for our entire career. This means that each school we encounter will have different beliefs and values that the students view as ‘common sense.’When we discussed this article in class, the group of three that I was in all had different views on common sense in schools. We each had different experiences throughout our schooling and different rules that were to be followed. I believe that every teacher will have their own beliefs about what common sense is.