Extremism can be seen as a protest against the international order. It might have resulted from the victimization of certain classes and religions. You can blame ignorance and poverty, again because of political and social systems, for the rise in extremist thoughts and organizations. The anger generated by crimes committed against humanity the world over has also given birth to extremists. But nothing can justify the butchering of children in the name of any religion or ideology. The mayhem and madness religious and political fanatics have unleashed on children can only be described as cowardice.

That extremists have targeted more than 1,000 schools in Pakistan alone since 2009 proves they are afraid of the power of the written word which they rightly or wrongly perceive could become a future threat.

Every power wants (rather is using) the written word to win its own battle. Extremists target schools to eliminate their future threats, that is, children getting a somewhat impartial knowledge about the world. Corporations target schools to shape their future consumers' consumption habits. And politicians and religious leaders target schools to get into the minds of future citizens of the world and turn them into their blind supporters.

And the innocent souls inside have nowhere to hide.

The author is a senior editor with China Daily. oprana@hotmail.com