“Maus,” “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story,” “Gender Queer.” These are among the hundreds of titles that have been removed from shelves in public schools and libraries across the country over the past year.

According to the American Library Association, attempts to ban books surged in 2021 to the highest level since the organization began tracking book challenges 20 years ago. And so far 2022 looks to be no different, as conservative politicians make schools and parents rights central themes in the run up to the midterm elections.

Diane’s guest today is Adam Laats, a professor of education and history at the State University of New York at Binghamton. He studies the history of cultural battles over schooling and school reform. He explained how these most recent battles over books fit into the history of censorship in U.S. schools.