James A. Banks and the Evolution of Multicultural Education

James A. Banks, Director of the Center for Multicultural Education, has been instrumental in shaping teaching strategies for multicultural education. His work inspired this qualitative, historical case study by Andrew Jackson, Sr., which documents a summer pilot research course in multicultural education. The study seeks to answer the following questions: What are the implications of Banks's models in the design of a multicultural course for teachers? To what extent does his approach provide a concrete guideline for teacher training? What are the relative strengths and weaknesses of his teacher training recommendations compared to those of other prominent theorists? Can an education course using these concepts be designed and delivered during a summer session in which students transition through Banks's stages of understanding?