Peeling the Orange and Spitting Out the Seeds: A Metaphorical Introduction to Curriculum

Curriculum is a term widely used by educational stakeholders but may be hard to define. In actuality, curriculum is composed of many forces and individuals. Using the metaphor of an orange, the author presents a novel way of examining the different structures operating within and through curriculum, including societal ideologies, accountability measures, local schools, and teachers. Originally intended to be a metaphor to assist preservice teachers’ comprehension of the far-reaching connections to their work, this article serves to remind any reader that despite the extant power structures, curricular discussions must be focused on the most important aspect of education: students.