(Introduction; Kumashiro. (2009). Against Common Sense: Teaching and Learning Toward Social Justice, pp. XXIX – XLI).
Kumashiro defines common sense as “what everyone should know”. He described many things that he was accustomed to that was not the same for the people in Nepal/ or when he moved to Nepal. These “common sense” or the struggles that kumashiro faced during his stay was with the meals, water, time, privacy and others. Common sense was expressed through how a certain community live about their daily life and what they considered as normal.The longer kumashiro stays in Nepal the more he is exposed to the differences between his common sense and theirs. He later on expressed that it took time to get accustomed to their way of living.
The problem was not just adapting to this new environment but also the difference in the school system. Just like how kumashiro struggled with adapting it also applies to how the students take his teaching methods. Unlike the “American” ways, the students are strictly focused on a question and answer, relies on textbooks and an outline given by the government. kumashiros purpose of teaching in Nepal was to shed light on a new teaching method that they could apply in their school system not including the fact that Nepal may not have the resources to accommodate these changes. It is important to pay attention to “common sense” because it is different for every community and might not be ideal for everyone.