Friends' Central Teachers Fired Following Speaker Controversy: Report

WYNNEWOOD, PA – The two teachers at Friends' Central School in Wynnewood who were suspended following a controversy regarding a Palestinian speaker have been let go from the school. English teacher Ariel Eure and history teacher Layla Helwa did not have their contracts renewed.

The two were suspended in February after parents raised concerns over Swarthmore professor Dr. Sa’ed Atshan's planned lecture at the Wynnewood Quaker school.

Eure and Helwa were offered $5,000 severance packages if they dropped a civil rights lawsuit and signed a confidentiality agreement.

The pair's attorney, Mark Schwartz, told NBC10 they will not be accepting the severance.

About a week after being suspended, their attorney issued the school a five-point ultimatum that said Eure and Helwa wanted to return to work; get an apology from the school; any incurred expenses be paid by the school; have the school apologize to Atshan; and have the school invite Atshan to the school for a speaking event.

NBC10 reports only one of those points was met, as Atshan was invited last week to speak at the school.

Schwartz said he hopes to continue the fight by taking to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Atshan was set to speak to the school's new Peace and Equality in Palestine Club, which was formed by students without Eure's and Helwa's, who merely act as advisors to the club, input.

Atshan is an assistant professor with Swarthmore's Peace & Conflict Studies department and holds several degrees from Harvard and Swarthmore. Atshan has also worked with Human Rights Watch, the American Civil Liberties Union, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Seeds of Peace International Camp, the Palestinian Negotiations Affairs Department, and Medical Aid for Palestinians, according to Swarthmore College.

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