Thanks to Ferdous Imam and her family

Bangladeshis are generally not known for expressing 'thanks'. Oh yes, they say it with their eyes, with their smiles, but somehow they feel they might choke on the words to speak them.

Writing a letter of thanks via a national newspaper is thoughtful, courageous and an exception to the rule. And to you, Ferdous Imam, I sincerely thank you and your family for having done that for your kind thoughts directed to me. (Ref: TDS 3rd Jan. 2015). I am overwhelmed. I firmly believe that if a person believes in what they are doing and is self-motivated enough, they can achieve anything, despite the obstacle course that impedes their progress. It is a well proven fact that corporal punishment in schools is singularly the greatest deterrent to the development of a child and not only is it not necessary, totally ineffective, but it is very harmful. It is the child abuse that robs them of their self esteem, belittles them, steals their Godly child qualities bequeathed to them at birth that often ruins them mentally or physically or both for life. How any Bangladeshi parent can claim to love their children and allow the good (the Godly qualities) they love in them to be beaten out by ignorant 'teachers' is way beyond my comprehension.

The education system of any country is the foundation on which the nation is built. While corporal punishment is allowed to continue in the classroom, Bangladesh will never reach its true potential – impossible! The damaged children of today are the broken adults of tomorrow. It pleases me greatly, Ferdous Imam, to read that you and your family members are happy and I thank you for the bouquet of thanks presented to me.

Sir Frank Peters
Gulshan, Dhaka