Multicultural Education: Issues and Perspectives

by James A. Banks (Editor), Cherry A McGee Banks (Contributor)

As diversity continues to increase in the United States, ethnic, cultural, social-class, and linguistic gaps are widening between teachers and their students. The rapidly changing educational landscape presents unique challenges and opportunities for addressing diversity both creatively and constructively in schools. Multicultural Education helps current and future educators fully understand sophisticated concepts of culture; become more effective practitioners in diverse classrooms; and view race, class, gender, social class, and exceptionality as intersectional concepts.

Now in its tenth edition, this bestselling textbook assists educators to effectively respond to the ways race, social class, and gender interact to influence student behavior and learning. Contributions from leading authorities in multicultural education discuss the effects of class and religion on education; differences in educational opportunities for male, female, and LGBTQ students; and issues surrounding non-native English speakers, students of color, and students with disabilities. Contemporary in relevance, this timely volume promotes multicultural education as a process of school reform. Practical advice helps teachers increase student academic achievement, work effectively with parents, improve classroom assessment, and benefit from diversity.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Psychology, Anthropology, Grad School, Cultural

384 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

James A. Banks is the Kerry and Linda Killinger Endowed Chair in Diversity Studies Emeritus at the University of Washington, Seattle. He was the Russell F. Stark University Professor at the University of Washington, 2001–2006. Professor Banks is a past president of the American Educational Research Association and of the National Council for the Social Studies. He is a specialist in social studies education and multi­cultural education and has written widely in these fields.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read this book for my Multicultural Education course. I thought the textbook was easy to read and follow. I thought it provided good ideas and strategies for teachers that teach diverse classrooms. Overall, I would recommend this textbook to future, novice, and current teachers or anyone who is interested in Multicultural Education.

[Sky Hull · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this textbook. The only reason it doesn't get higher than a 3 star from me is because the tone of the text really started to bother me. It felt as though they were speaking to me as if I were a child for a large portion of the text and that really rubbed me the wrong way. However, the information that is covered and the topics discussed in this text are CRUCIAL for any educator to have a firm foundation in. It really opened my eyes to what needs to be happening in my classroom that is not currently there. It also helped me with planning a lot of my curriculum for the fall semester - especially since I teach American Lit and the literary canon is nowhere even close to diverse. I am very excited to apply what I have learned from this text.

[Aileen Lundeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not light reading. I read this for for a diversity class, and found it very well worth my time. I would recommend this for college level readers. Even if you feel that you are a person who is aware of multicultural issues, this book will have new information for you.

[Alissa Quinlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good general multicultural education book. Gives a lot of ideas and examples. Pretty broad.

[Alicia Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. Really opened my eyes.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the number of topics addressed. I wished in part a few were more readable, I have read the articles referenced within and I found it to be too overdigested in parts or just spouting research in others. Overall I think it addresses important issues, and I liked some chapters better than others.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, fun, inspiring textbook including chapters written by a variety of experts in multicultural education topics! Who knew that was possible!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good foundation book.

[David Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no way I could have read this straight through. But, despite how much I hate admitting it. I enjoyed reading parts of it for class and it made me think. Grrrr.