This image was lost some time after publication.

Last week's very special issue in the New York Times about seventeen-year-olds in the city caused something of a scandal with a certain set of Park Slope parents—a group usually known for their calm, undemanding approach to life. David Helene, a resident of Cobble Hill and a senior at Packer Collegiate Institute, discussed the differences between his school and rival Brooklyn institution Berkeley Carroll: "I don't go to Park Slope much. I have friends who live there, but I think the kids who go to Berkeley Carroll are kind of cocky. The partying is also way more intense there than over here. They drink a lot more than we do, and I've heard that the drug use may be a little more." And now there's big trouble.

That sounds like fairly innocuous stuff to us. And we're sure he has knowledge of what he speaks! But the horrified Park Slope parents went crazy and demanded both that Helene be disciplined by Packer Collegiate and that the Times issue a retraction. Here's the happy result!

From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:09 PM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Recent Article in the New York Times

Thursday - September 20, 2007

In an interview in the City section of the New York Times (9.16.07), a senior attending the Packer Collegiate Institute made serious comments about Berkeley Carroll students. The Packer student has since apologized for his remarks as has Bruce Dennis, Head of Packer. In a phone conversation this week with the New York Times where we expressed our concerns, Berkeley Carroll was assured that an editor's note will appear in the City section this Sunday, because the comments were based on unsubstantiated evidence. This entire experience has been unfortunate; nevertheless, we are confident that some valuable lessons have been learned. We appreciate the follow-up actions taken by the Packer Collegiate Institute and by the New York Times.

Poor kid! We hope they didn't punish him too severely. Anyway, everyone knows that all the real drug use happens at St. Ann's, right?