WHAT ERASE THE SPACE TYPICALLY DOES

For the past four years, Amelia and Derek have run a writing exchange between their classrooms. Students exchange letters, chat online, and meet in-person. In contrast to similar models, Erase the Space goes beyond the idea of “pen pals” and engages students in work to do together as future democratic citizens. Through just four short assignments and one end-of-the-year meeting at a neutral, public space, educators and their students engage in civic discourse and democratic reimagination.

WHAT ERASE THE SPACE IS DOING THIS YEAR AND 2022

In lieu of facilitating student exchanges for the 2020-2021 school year, we are focusing on teachers and the work we need to do together. This year we have 32 teachers learning the Erase the Space process and collectively investigating the impact of white supremacy in our classrooms and schools. We have partnered with Otterbein University and the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at OSU to provide teachers with the necessary space and time to reflect and collaborate together in order to address these issues of equity before asking their students to participate in exchanges next school year. In monthly Zoom meetings, we spend time reflecting on our positionality in our respective classrooms and communities while learning from paid community educators. Educators will eventually partner in order to plan curriculum for an Erase the Space student exchange in the 2021-2022 school year.

WHAT WE NEED

We need to pay our teachers. This is hard work. Our teachers have shown up to our sessions beyond their normal duties. Some are on a screen with students all day and still choose to be on-screen with us. Teachers in hybrid situations, though drained from the new demands of in-person teaching, have put in extra work to learn about Erase the Space and themselves. We hope to pay all 32 teachers at least $250 each.

We need to pay our community educators. Erase the Space is a place for transformation through connection, and we want to make sure those connections are compensated for and that the needs of our community partners are met. We aim to pay community educators/partners $500+ for their services and support.