Friends' Central Teachers Suspended After Booking Palestinian Speaker

Two teachers at Friends' Central School in Wynnewood have been suspended after booking a Palestinian Swarthmore professor to speak at the school, with school administration justifying the decision by saying the teachers actions went against the school's core tenets.

English teacher Ariel Eure, 25, and history teacher Layla Helwa, 26 were suspended earlier this week after parents raised concerns over Swarthmore professor Dr. Sa’ed Atshan's planned lecture, according to Philly.com.

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

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.

"As a Quaker school, we have long-standing expectations for all members of our community – especially for our teachers, who have the responsibility of guiding young minds," the school administration said in a statement Monday. "There are very real concerns about the conduct of Ariel Eure and Layla Helwa for their disregard of our guiding testimonies, which include community, peace, and integrity. As of today, Ariel Eure and Layla Helwa are on indefinite paid administrative leave while a more extensive review is conducted."

Attorney Mark D. Schwartz, who is representing Eure and Helwa, told Philly.com that the teachers were suspended in a more "storm trooper" than Quaker fashion.

The outlet reports the teachers are banned form campus, have had their email accounts deactivated, and are unsure of when and if they will return to the school.

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