Story Archive

Missing Class

Officials at Prospect Heights International High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., called Jonas Pierre to talk about his son. Jean Fritz Pierre hadn’t been in class lately, and the officials wanted his father to come discuss his attendance record. But Jonas Pierre, 39, knew why his son wasn’t in class, and what’s more, he thought the school ought to know too: Jean Fritz Pierre, 16, had died in June — on a school trip. A city investigation concluded his death wasn’t the school’s fault, but Jonas Pierre is suing. “Maybe the school doesn’t think it’s important,” said the bereaved father, “but it’s important to me.” Jonas Pierre said he’d been beginning to recover when the call threw him back into his grief. His attorney said Pierre hadn’t heard an apology, but an education department spokeswoman told a reporter, “We apologize for any pain or suffering this may have caused the family and are checking all data systems to ensure that the family doesn’t receive these calls anymore.” (AC/New York Daily News) ...Well, the press heard an apology, and that’s what counts, isn’t it?