Within Kumashiro’s The Problem of Common Sense, there were multiple examples that showcase what common sense is. While teaching in Nepal, Kumashiro was immersed into a much different life than that in America. Routine chores and activities such as meals and water schedules were extremely different, and it took time for him to adjust to this new life. Similar to life outside of school and the classroom, students and teachers in Nepal had set routines in which they rarely strayed from. As the year began, Kumashiro wanted to implement his own teaching strategies but he quickly learned from his students that that was not how he was supposed to teach. He was told that girls sit with girls and boys sit with boys, and that learning took on the style of students copying exactly what the teacher put on the board, and that the students worked only from their government-issued textbooks. Through Kumashiro’s experience, he learned that ‘common sense’ differs in multiple societies. ‘Common sense’ is not the same everywhere one goes. By taking Kumashiro’s experience into consideration and using the examples presented, ‘common sense’ can be defined as a way of viewing different things based on how the society has previously viewed it and will continuously view it. It is almost a routine that goes unquestioned until someone does it ‘wrong’ or differently. 

It is important to pay attention to ‘common sense’ because it varies from different societies, places, and individuals. By recognizing that as educators, we can attempt to change harmful implications and oppressions that may be seen when conforming to society or the ‘common sense.’ As educators we can encourage our students to question what truly is ‘common sense’ and if they should be conforming to it. We can teach students to want to be themselves and be comfortable in not following ‘common sense’ or society. It is our jobs as educators to show that ‘common sense’ is not something that everyone needs or should follow; in fact, it is meant to be challenged and redefined through questioning and teaching. It is also important to pay attention to ‘common sense’ as educators because you will be teaching students from multiple backgrounds and therefore, will more than likely have a different ‘common sense’ than you and their peers. In order to ensure they are receiving quality education, we as educators need to adapt new ways of teaching and go beyond ‘common sense’ and what society expects of us.