A threatening letter sent by local education authorities to the parents of a boy who died by suicide after complaining of being bullied has embarrassed France's government, which described the communication as "shameful", reports Barron's.
The boy, named as Nicolas, 15, killed himself on September 5, one day after children went back to class in France after the summer break.
He had changed schools for the new term to attend an establishment in Paris, but had complained of being bullied in the last school year at his previous school in Poissy in the Yvelines region southwest of the capital.
But the Yvelines regional education authorities based in Versailles, rather than expressing sympathy with the family's predicament, sent them a letter saying statements by the parents had been "unacceptable" and urged them to adopt a "constructive" attitude.
It even reminded them that slander in France can be a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in jail and a heavy fine of up to 45,000 euros.
"This letter is shameful, shameful," said education minister Gabriel Attal of the letter, which was sent in May but whose existence was first reported last week by the BFMTV channel.