Common Sense

What is common sense, other than the title of Thomas Paine's historic pamphlet "Commn Sense" that was pure genius, making the case for the American revolution? Although my little contribution here does not compare to Paine's efforts and impact, I still hope hope that an awakening of some kine would make common sense more common! Not holding my breath.
     I wonder if common sense can be learned or taught, or is it something that just comes naturally to some people? IF we could think about it, consider how important it is to our lives, and begin to look for it around (or realize it is missing), maybe, just maybe, we would be persuaded, as the Colonists were, to "do something" with what we have learned and begin to acquire it ourselves to our benefit and to the benefit of others.
    Although in leadership and decisions of import we also must consider the facts, research, data many other factors, common sense may appear first, and ususally in a simplified, straightforward approach, without the need for elaborate reasoning, statistics or facts, though there is always a logic in it. It is more of an immediate, "gut" response than something thought through in the moment. 

    Children often display a remarkable capacity for common sense. Everyone who has been around children probably has a story about a child coming up with a solutions, making wise observation, or reacting to situations with more common sense than most adults. Could common sense be a capacity with which we are born, but over time are "taught" or conditioned not to use, especially through formal education and the media?  

    Formal education does not seem to foster common sense approaches or responses. Education often has all of the answers or the right questions to ask.  Did you ever read or have to respond to those dumb questions at the end of chapters in text books or novels? I prefer to formulate my own questions and encouraged students to do the same. There is also a lack of common sense in standardized testing, which has been the main gauge of students' abilities for college application, though this may be changing. 

In fact, possible common sense “answers” from creative, more imaginative students (ones who don't think in straight lines) may also be valid, but considered “incorrect.” Students have to be trained to take certain tests and to use certain strategies which help them score better. In other words, children have to learn how to take tests to be more likley to give the only correct answers. Such practices diminish the capacity for common sense and essentially teach what to think, not how to think.Hopefully there is othere opportunity in the classrooms for encouragement to use different kind of thinking, perspectives or solutions to a problem. 

    One might also consider the media's and social medias' roles in deleting common sense forever from our menu of options. The daily and relentless news tips regarding medicine, food, diets, and lifestyles create a complex, confusing and contradictory landscape of possible panaceas, or disasters waiting to befall us. In addition, the so- called reality shows have had people wading in sewage, eating maggots, vying for romatic hook ups and, maybe soon, selling their children, if it means "winning"--all of which makes us less likely to believe that people have the sense they were born with. Then there are the video “games” giving us the opportunity to participate as grand theft auto felons, hikers to nowhere, shooters and other actions that make the case that life indeed imitates art.

    Radio and television talk show hosts rant and rave in narrow rhetoric, espousing extreme positions and all manner of unfounded conspiracies to gullible followers. Common sense suggests that these "gurus" can't be right all of the time (and the"other side" wrong) and would also reveal that such hyperbolic hosts (e.g. the infamous, dytopian, but influential Steve Bannon and Alex Jones) are essentially entertainers, provokateurs and moral midgets (raking in the cash) not journalists or fact-finding fellows. Common sense would also tell us that the pros and cons of other opinions, beliefs and perspectives need to considered to see the whole picture of people, places, events and are to be logically considered, debated, and understood in order make judgements, decisions and solve problems. But forget that approach in the current zietgiest fraught with division and bizarre conspiracy theories held on to with religious fervor. 

    Social media, like it or not has become a source (maybe the only one for many) of news and views which also should be tested, expanded upon, in some cases held suspect until proven otherwise, yet again, currently, is not the case, even if what is given out is proven bogus, false with no evidence or proof. Being exposed to all of this nonsense can make us despair that common sense may never be valued as not only a desirable, but also a vital and necessary human capacity. How are we to foster and develop common sense so that we are not at the mercy of an education system with often inane procedures and policies in effect discouraging common sense, or the fears of censors who indiscriminatly and ignorantly ban all manner of historic and/or classic literture (e.g. Cather in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Diary of Anne Frank) that would/could challenge readers to learn about the human condition, and think for themselves. These kinds of fear-driven decisions not only suggest that there is no faith in common sense, but such efforts prevent others from acquiring a broad and deep cultural literacy and developing the resources to make assessments and decisions a variety of subjects.
    Even though things may seem hopeless in many areas these days, common sense is probably not something that can be totally annililated, despite the lack of it all around us. If children are not getting what they need to think or have common sense experiences in their classrooms, parents can consider home schooling to that end. Unfortunatley, sometimes home schooling is thought of as a way to protect children from what is feared most "free thinking' so they trade what they think is one kind of indoctrination to the indoctrination of their choice. 

    Ideally, home IS a place for discussion, debate and oppotunities to explore various ideas and perspectives. Parents have a crucial and necessary role in identifying, encouraging and affirming common sense. They can praise when they hear or see common sense displayed or spoken. Parents and teachers can make reading and visual materials available that encourage thinking rather than preventing it, and they can also be examples of common sense themselves and/or point out examples of it in history, literature, films, social situations, etc. If we look we will see practical situations and solutions as examples aboundng in history, science, inventions, research and in every day life. Parents can also discuss with their children examples of lack of common sense when the opportunity arises. 

    Not to put all the responsibility on parents, all the above can also be and sometimes is done by caring and thoughtful teachers, family, neighbors and friends, who also may have a role in limiting TV, screen and computer time, which may allow children to tap into and use their own imagination, hear their own voice, their own questions, formulate or seek out their own "answers," play inventively and creatively, rather sources replete with banal and watered down versions of life with stock characters spouting sentimental and/or sarcastic language in tone and meaning.

    Let’s all try to revive and affirm common sense whenever and wherever we can, encourage it and hope that is not gone forever. 

    And here ends my little blog "pamphlet" contribution to the need for Common Sense and ways we may at least begin to think about looking for it, identifying it, fostering it and using it.