Sir:

We at Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education (PTAVE) wholeheartedly congratulate the Government of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and the Minister of Education for abolishing corporal punishment in schools. We also applaud Sir Frank Peters on the success of his campaign to illuminate the truth and gravity of this matter, and to bring it to the attention of all concerned.

Extending to schoolchildren the right to be safe from violent punishments is no longer a matter for conjecture or debate. It is fundamental. As Sir Frank Peters has pointed out, corporal punishment in schools mainly teaches that violence is a legitimate management tool for use by the powerful over the powerless. That's a bad lesson for children and a dangerous example for the general community. With this reform, Bangladesh points the way toward a gentler, more caring, and more humane future based on nonviolent interaction for all.

Congratulations, Bangladesh!

Jordan Riak
Executive Director, (PTAVE)
Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education (PTAVE)
California, USA