Mon, Nov 23, 2009
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Name:
TRTR
Comment: Oprah's got to watch the situation and be more hands on -- and not leave it to, in effect, "producer" types to control things. Just like her show, when you look at who's controlling who gets on, what topics get primarily chosen, etc., it's the producers who do the final selection process and weeding out BEFORE it gets to Oprah for final approval. So she'd better watch it or else the real spin will be coming from the handlers. That's why we get so much negativity on Africa and Black "average" folks overall from her show. The producers on her show are not a diverse crew; they're primarily White, so we constantly get a negative spin on Blacks, yet a lot of diversity among the different types of White folks around the world. You can tell Oprah has no or very, very few people who have an Afrocentric view on her staff -- including the Blacks. Everything on her show about Africa is negative and viewed from a poverty, "please help us" angle. She never shares the stories of Africa's rich history or how colonialism in the past and the continuing "raping" of the continent's wealth of natural resources continues today, which is why Africa is having so many problems now. Her stories are very lopsided about Africa, so it's not surprising that the people running the schools may not be understanding how best to operate it right now. But time will tell, so hopefully they'll improve. It's unfortunate that Oprah doesn't delve more into our ancient African history because it would be enlightening for her and her audience.
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Name:
B00TANEB00TUS
Comment: WTF?....They're only allowed to eat fruit and healthy snacks?...They can only have cell phones on the weekends?....Yo, wasn't it only a few months ago that these kids didn't have sh1t?...If this is true then it pretty much shoots Oprah comments about U.S. kids to he11...How can these lil muthafuccers complain 'bout sh1t?....LMBAO...I wonder how O's gonna spin this...Like I posted when this was going down, all sh1t is relative...Go on pull your kids out...I'm sure there's a loooooooong waiting list...These kids got a taste of O's life and they want more... A dayum Snickers?...Yo, they were eating gruel a few months ago, WTF?...Cell phones?...Yo, they were communicating by drums a few months ago, WTF?..Yo, niggazz don't appreciate sh1t...It dosen't matter what side of the continent your from....LMBAO!!!!!!!!
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Name:
B00TANEB00TUS
Comment: ...I applaud O for trying to improve people's lives but this sh1t sounds crazy...I saw these girls getting manicures, pedicures, getting their hair done, going to the spa and getting a great education...Yo, they're lives looked good to me...Now, I don't know what's going on behind the scenes...The visitation sh1t does sound a little odd...Unless you have the parents running up in there taking sh1t home...Toilet paper, plates of food and getting spas on the sly....LOL....
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Name:
ChocolateBrownGal
Comment: "There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up. If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. " Booker T. Washington
Education comes at price sometimes. The Mary McLeod Bethunes, Thurgood Marshalls, & A. Phillip Rnadolphs of this world would have jumped at opportunities like this decades ago!
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Name:
FiveMore
Comment: I know Oh must be heart broken about the recent bad publicity.These are interesting developments....she and her staff better move on this as@p because a storm is brewing under the surface!South African children like material things too, Oprah!
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Name:
MiamiVP
Comment: Aint those kids in school for free???? I dont believe everything I hear in a report. I'm not a huge Oprah fan but what I can see she is doing for these kids is wonderful. Note to the parents..."Man up"
Nuff said.
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Name:
Stuckinthe70s
Comment: > BOOTANEB00TUS You are too funny! But I have to agree. The restrictions to this school which basically is a private school are not unreasonable. Promoting healthy eating habits now? What's the problem? I agree O needs to keep abreast of what's happening but if these people don't like it, take your kids out! The spots will be filled in NO TIME!
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Name:
alexander1906
Comment: If the parents do not like the rules they have the right to pull their kids out of school. Don't alot of boarding school have strict rules like this. They new what they were getting into when they enrolled them into school. Some people may see it as too strict, I see it as teaching discipline and Good Health. People are never satisfied! Appreciated the opportunity that is afforded to you.
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Name:
grayeyesliu
Comment: Dang!! I agree with you B00TANEB00TUS.. These little snot noses gets and opportunity to get afirst class education and they are worried about cell phones and snicker bars. Those parents need to shut the hell up and learn to appreciate. Poor folks always complaining when people try to help them. I say" Pull your kid out. that's the problem with American kids, black and white. They know everything there is to know about Ipods, Cell Phones, YouTube, YourSpace, BlackPlanet,BET,BlackVoices, uploads, downloads, but not a damn thing about the three R's which will help them in life.
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Name:
HarrisThomas
Comment: Despite the expensive extras, the students attend the school for an education. The rules aren't extraordinary. I betcha that the rules were made known to the students and their parents before day one. The rules that currently exist need to stay in place in order to shake out the students who are not serious about participating in a significant, positive, learning environment.
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Name:
musbdherbs
Comment: And the media strikes again!
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Name:
McNasty
Comment: I agree Boot & HarrisThomas! Now they've got it and want to have a say in how it's run - can't have it all, hell just ask an inner city kid. Over and above what they are given they have to work for the rest just like anyone else. It also seems to me that these rules were put in place for a reason, why not wait and see how it really shakes out before they start complaining, threatening and demanding?!
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Name:
PRDC
Comment: If they can't get with the situation, then leave. She is only trying to help them out....I don't think all of them are complaining, the ones that have a problem with the system...the gate is open to go back home. You know, when things are given freely, people will mis-use them and you everytime. I'm sure she might be a little hurt, but to have a college education paid in full at any college youwant to attend...come on now...excuse me...please open the gate and those that want to leave please do.....
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Name:
B00TANEB00TUS
Comment: Yo...I have a daughter in a magnet school but I'd put her butt on a plane in a minute if she were admitted to O's joint...
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Name:
GoldenLady
Comment: I understand what everyone is saying and I know that these children are receiving a wonderful chance at a great education, but children also need balance. I don't know much about boarding schools, but why can't they have 10 or 15 minutes 2 times a week to call home (even if cell phones are restricted) or candy once every other week? Wouldn't hurt nothing. I have my own family and can't go a day w/o talking to my mama. I love candy too LOL. But really, it seems some balance and moderation could resolve this easily.
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Name:
DCGG
Comment: Co-Sign Boot...regardless of how ungreatful those lil huzzies sound, Okrah talked about American black children and their greed and want for all things materialistic and here these bytches are in a free private state of the art institution, hand selected, access to all things wonderful and still complainin...
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Name:
YLawdY
Comment: To repeat what I said yesterday...Oprah has just conducted an important social experiment. She has proven that children given the same environs will act the same way no matter what country they're from. I do have a problem with the parents being limited to seeing their kid once a month. You should be allowed to see your child (within reason) on a less restricted basis unless as someone up there said they're stealing the toilet paper.
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Name:
thatbklyngirl
Comment: Okay since B00TANEB00TUS wrote word for word what I was thinking I'm just gonna co-sign. They truely are ungrateful! I WISH my black behind could get that kind of education freaking now. and they want to complain, let them go back to their lives as it was. Then they will learn.
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Name:
ChocolateBrownGal
Comment: Fair enough this may not be the complete story. But every time I hear it on the news, I can't help think that some of this frustration and anger is nothing more than teen/adolesent angst. What youth do any of us know that don't complain about something? And for some it could be simple homesickness since many have never left their families for this length of time if at all. However, in a world where it has become common place to see our kids molested by relatives, role models AND teachers, shooting up schools, childhood diabetes is on the rise because of inactivity and poor diet, and living on the streets eating out of garbage cans, the "supposed" denial of a Snickers/treat is hardly something to complain about. This school may not be for everyone, and if not let someone else take your place.
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Name:
katgrrrl
Comment: Boots, I couldn't agree more witcha!
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: @BOOTANEBOOTUS: You oughta have your own comedy show! You had me and my wife rolling on the flo' with yo' post. Now let me get back to my coffee and laugh sum mo!!! LOL!!!
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Name:
ccognac
Comment: To: TRTR, I agree with a lot of what you said I'm sick of the media focusing more about the destruction Africa instead of the rich & beautiful Africa that a lot of know about. They do this to keep most of out, but then "they" go in and rob & filter out all the richness of the country. BUT, was this not the same group of kids that Oprah said were studying by candlelight and barely had enough to eat. Why in the hell are they complaining about snickers, sweets, cell phones & email? Oprah complained that she opened this school because there was a greater need there than here in the US, I guess this ideology has chopped her in the asss. Week one a kid had already decided to drop out, I thought this was an oppty. of a lifetime for them? Kids are kids and they lack the maturity sometimes to understand and appreciate things. I'm sure there are a greater number of kids who are so glad that they're there and they hopefully will outnumber the complainers.
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Name:
Southernbelle
Comment: Nuff said Boots. LMAO "communicating by drums a few months ago" hilarious. Well, I guess materialism crosses continents.
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Name:
TRTR
Comment: "Bootanebootus" is getting a lot of accolades - for what? using the n-word? Anyway, has anyone on this board been to the continent of Africa lately or ever? There are plenty of cell phones, candy, and American advertising. Whether rich or poor, many people have a cell phone or access to one. Most people are not starving either, so they do eat sweets sometimes. One poster mentioned the media doing its thing to make the school look bad and that poster is correct. So many of you folks are ready to down the students, Oprah, and the school. All Oprah needs to do is have a better understanding of Afican culture so she can get things on track. That's it. Don't fall for the media manipulation that's at play here.
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Name:
bigheadbull2
Comment: I have two nieces and two nephews who go to a boarding school here in DC called SEED
We drop them off on Sunday and pick them up on Friday. The rules are in place for a reason. They had to adapt but the change in all of them is priceless and they all get a college education in the end. For their mother's and father's it is win, win situation. And they advocate and demand academic excellence
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Name:
eddie
Comment: $40 Million spent on any school ,should accomadate more than 150 children.This school should have no less than 2 thousand students,because it's a waste of money and time to construct a school for $40 million dollars ,with only 150 students.Oprah should have known better.
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: @TRTR: Your brilliant post was thought provoking and intellectually challenging for the brainiest student of African history & culture. I reply to your query: Many moons ago, I lived with the grandchildren of Emperor Haile Selassie in Ethiopia BEFORE his death and learned a lot about Ethiopian culture & history. I studied at University of Accra Ghana (Legon) years later where WEB DuBois died. Africa has always been presented to us negatively. As a college freshman, in an anthropology class (only BLACK in class) after hearing how all civilization began in Europe and BLACK folks didn't make a contribution no where, I innocently asked. Why don't you lecture on my ancestry---AFRICA? And the Prof. Dr. Russell Coberly, said to me, "Your ancestors have no history!"
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Name:
shulamite
Comment: It's absolutely critical that Oprah NOT change a thing. Please. Traditional South African educators are WAY, WAY, WAY more strict than that school - and the(few) parents complaining already know that. The media just found a few knuckleheads and ran with it to make Oprah look bad and more importantly to make those "ungrateful n*ggas" look bad. Bootane's comments - although funny - are EXACTLY what the white media wanted (white) American readers to take away from this story. "N*ggas are n*ggas are n*ggas no matter what continent they are from." Wake up, people! Don't buy the media message! Oprah better keep things the same. As someone mentioned - it will weed out the non-committed. Too much at stake to let this school get compromised by nonsense like that.
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Name:
Bad_Kitty
Comment: I believe Oprah could have opened a school like this in the US and the outcome would have been similar if not the same. Some would appreciate, others would not. The thing that I like about her opening this school in Africa is that it is an ALL black school where the children are getting an exceptional education. I WISH there was a place like that in the US. All black (not college), not co-ed, where the focus is on education and building yourself whole from the inside - out. The girls that graduate from this school I believe, will be very strong, black sisters if they commit to learning, prospering and growing mentally, physically and emotionally. I truly WISH there was a place like that for our young black girls and young black boys in the US (separate of course). Then maybe our people would really begin to come together as one. One generation at a time.
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Name:
musbdherbs
Comment: TRTR..uhm..Boot is get'n props cuz the shyt was just funny. I didn't even realize he said n!ggah. That's a very, very small detail that only certain people would even pay attention to.
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Name:
shulamite
Comment: Bad_Kitty, there was. In fact, it was in Chicago. An all African-American boys (all male teachers) primary education private school for poor kids. The boys did extraordinarily well - academically and socially - and were on the ocver of several major news magazines. And then the ACLU/Justice Dept came with the segragation/discrimination lawsuits. Don't know what the status of the school is today. But you're right. The model works well when you have enough money to push it (aka Oprah and Bill Gates).
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Name:
Soulwriter
Comment: I'm glad O has standards, but how is the occasional chocolate bar going to turn someone into an uneducatable derelict? And why can't they get visits once every two weeks----is she scared that additional contact w/ the outside world will dumb folks down? Of course they had next to nothing before, but if these rules had been disclosed earlier, would so many have been clamoring to get in? Probably not....
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Name:
Pammy
Comment: Boot, "Weren't they eating gruel"? had me spitting my coffee across the room. but you are so right. I WISH I'd had the opportunity those girls do. Either get out and let another committed student take your place or shut up and study!
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: @Soulwriter: As the hip hoppers say, "This ain't that deep!" These young girls, many of whom are from abject poverty-ed, crime infested, shanty towns are given the once in a life time opportunity, to attend a state of th arts educational academy where a college education is GUARANTEED anywhere in the world? And they complain about cell phones, chocolate candy and visits? If I were Oprah, I'd compassionately listen to the girls and their outraged parents, nod in agreement and then give them a return ticket to SOWETO. There are scores of African girls who were rejected who would glady fill the spot. If you don't want to live by the rules? Then carry yo' dusty azz home! Trade in beef and potatoes for porrige and gruel like Boot says!"
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: @Soulwriter: one last thang. If Adolph Hitler was the head master, many of these girls would still want an education no matter how draconian the system might be. What so difficult about living by rules and regulations to guarantee yo' success? I do hope this matter is ironed out so these kids can study and change South Africa.
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Name:
Bad_Kitty
Comment: shulamite: Hi. How long ago was it that this school was in existance in Chicago? It is such a brilliant idea. Our young black boys and young black girls NEED something like this before they get to high school and college. They need to be taught by strong black male teachers (the boys) and strong black female teachers (the girls). DAMN ACLU/Justice Dept. I guess they weren't getting their "cut" and had to close the school down. As usual. We have to go underground with our shyt. Makes me sick.
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Name:
Islander
Comment: Okay what am I missing here?! These kids and their parents are complaining about snicker bars and visiting hours...just a few weeks ago some were drinking water for dinner and reading by candle light! People need to think before they speak, if they want to pull their child or children go right ahead because they will be a child who has a stronger desire to be uplifted waiting to take that spot. I appauld Oprah for doing such a great thing! If they don't like the rule then get out! The rules are no different from good boarding schools right here in the USA and UK.
Peace!
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Name:
golfebj
Comment: Excellence has a cost. I'm sure Jordan didn't go to a lot of stuff because he was fueled on the being the best ball player in the world.
Heck look at most of the people who are famous because of entertainment, business and/or education. They stood out didn't get caught up doing a bunch of simple things. Jay-Z said it...first time he too a vacation good ole Damen Dash was making moves behind his back. Dipset?! Really.
Oprah was a standout. Condoleeza was a standout. Barack was a standout. NayNay and BooBoo can tell you who was on 106 and Park but he really cares.
Watch MTV Cribs...these people don't have time to watch 60" flat screens in their house because they're usually not home.
You want to be a leader, it comes with sacrifice. Just because we can doesn't mean that is good for us to do.
Oprah's grooming leaders. If you don't want to be a leader then get out.
To whom much is GIVEN much is required.
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Name:
nylaconnect
Comment: I think O is trying to do a good thing but some things may need to be modified.Why are they trying to isolate the children from their parents(from visitation every two weeks to every 4 weeks). They(the children) need their parents support,its seems O's people want no resistance in, for a lack of terms, brainwashing these kids to do what they(the adminstrators) want them to do.Even a prisoner gets visits once a week,if they behave.Oprah herself cant control her own diet,but is pushing the no candy edict on children.Like someone stated moderation and balance is the key.Its a shame that some people on here think Africans live like paupers and eat certain things and dont have access to that like quote we Americans,these people are way tougher than us,in so many ways,with what they too have gone through and are going through, may this is why some Africans have a problem with their American brothers and sisters, Life is short,we never know what is going to happen,I would want to see my child weekly,because education is just one part of living.It seems like some havent learned from the depiction of the African by the media that Malcolm warned us about way back in the 60's.
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Name:
tester70
Comment: My daughter can barely make it through the school day w/o calling me! With that said...I really don't see the problem w/ the school. It's been said that American culture is prominient there and like most teenagers when they want what they can't have, they pitch a fit! D.R.A.M.A. Although I do believe she could have put that same school in the middle of IOWA and would have gotten the same results. But that's neither here nor there.
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Name:
detroitgee
Comment: For once the forum has diverse comments that are thought provoking "Bootanebootus most times is controversial but funny as hell. Cultural diversity and individualistic desires for stuff aren't only found in western cultures. Get the education and lets move on
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Name:
beegirl
Comment: I always try to take stories "reported first" on Web sites with a grain of salt, but... I don't really see the problem the way these few parents see it. I wish more kids would see the value of yogurt over sweets. And I definitely wouldn't want my daughters in an all-girls school where the visitation and security policies were lax. Especially with O's name on the school. Any and eveybody might try to run up in there, trying to rob the place or worse. And if my younger sister put down her cell phone every now and again, her GPA would be higher. If these few parents' only problems are that their kids are eating properly and are in a safe, secure place, life is good. Homesickness will fade.
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Name:
MOTHERSHIP
Comment: Okay, let them go back to eating dirt, and cow shyt if they don't want to entertain the regiments of eating healthy. The name of the game is to give these kids a chance that they would never otherwise have had. Mofo's forever cryin' about somethin'. The parents barely have the means to provide these kids the basic necessities of life and here they get a chance to enhance their lives and they're hollerin' about they don't get to see the kids but once a month? That's the idea. To have a program by which there are less distractions.
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Name:
dcdouglass01
Comment: "If there's too much movement on the premises at the weekend, it disturbs the school spirit." Not quite sure where the educator is coming from with that one. Parental visitation on weekends, each and every weekend, seems fine to me. And I'd only restrict cell phone use during class hours, e.g., M-F, 7 am - 4 pm. Cafeteria food (nutritional content, portion sizes) should definitely be monitored, but the occassional sweet is OK, IMO.
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Name:
B00TANEB00TUS
Comment: C'mon, we can't compare this to a prison....The fuccing doors ain't locked!...There might be some truth to some South Africans wanting to present the school in a bad light but dayum....Is that mother really gonna pull her kid out cause she can't have sugar ladden snacks or more visitations?...To the parents who are complaining to the press, I'm like WTF?...Are they molesting the girls?...This just sounds like some tired azz nig-(oooops, I'm sorry. I don't want to offend anybody here)...ignant azz sh1t....This is a Black Billionaire who spent a good deal of her loot to get this thing done...Love or hate her, she dosen't deserve this....Like I said, the doors ain't locked...He11, they coulda spoke to her in private...With the the dayum cell-phones she provided or E-mailed her with the computers she paid for...The press shouldn't have been involved
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Name:
MzTee
Comment: Before the parents enrolled their children in the school, I'm sure they were informed of the rules. In most private schools, the parents sign a contract which carefully lays out the rules and regulations of the school. Most of the parents were probably so excited their children would receive an excellent education that they didn't pay attention to the rules. I don't see anything wrong with the rules and think the parents are overreacting.
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Name:
beegirl
Comment: Yes, Mothership, yes! Fewer distractions. This program was made to take these girls out of the situations that were keeping them away from focusing on their success, no? Otherwise, it could have just been a day school. The visitation policy isn't much different than kids who go to camp and have to wait to see their parents until the end of the summer. I would be willing to bet that some parents (esp. these complainers) were going to the school and giving their daughters guilt trips, thus making the girls want to quit and go home.
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Name:
Angel
Comment: OK....I'm sure that the complainers are very few and far between. It's a boarding school and a free one at that. Boarding school environments are not for everyone. If you don't want to abide by the rules, take your azz home.
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Name:
musbdherbs
Comment: I don't think that cell phones should be allowed in schools AT ALL. But that's just my opinion. What this whole story sounds like is that a parent or two complained, the media-hungry-anti-oprah camp jumped on it and BAM! I doubt if most of the parents are even bothered. Sure, they may want to see their girls but I'm hoping they realize this is for the good. Who knows, all of these rules could be temporary as this is a pilot. Rules change.. But let the media tell it, Oprah is denying these girls their basic rights to Oreo Cookies and Edy's Butter Pecan Ice Cream.
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Name:
ladybyrd
Comment: Go Oprah! Private Schools are always strict. If Oprah put one in the burbs the parents will fall all over themselves to get their child in by any means.
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Name:
ladybyrd
Comment: Angel > I agree! The media love to report hatred on Oprah even if it's much to do about nothing. When this woman is gone, many will see how great she really is.
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Name:
Secret
Comment: You people are crazy. I don't know what kind of parents you are but me seeing my child once every two weeks is crazy. The school can never replace what a parent gives to their child. The school can not give the love that a parent gives a child. School will enlighten a child and give them a chance to be successful in the world but a parent’s love will sustains them. I never heard of candy ruining a child. They are children and this is a school not prison.
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Name:
majones
Comment: Nylaconnect: I agree w/you 100%!! Even a prisoner (w/good behavior) gets weekly visits. I can't even imagine only being allowed to see my son once every two weeks and then being told it may decrease to once a month - WTF?!?!? That's pure insanity.... Oprah really needs to look into what's going on here - like someone previously stated, her (white)staff has alot of (daily) control so she may be in the dark about a few things. Even the most powerful CEO doesn't know all the little things that go on in the company......
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Name:
Shortey71
Comment: I'm not that familiar with Africa or it's cultures so I can't say if the kids should be greatful or not, Africa has changed a lot over the years and they may now have hot running water, plasma's, Jordans and be totally commercialized like the U.S. I agree with a lot of the post today, especially Bad_Kitty's commment, "Oprah could have opened a school like this in the US and the outcome would have been the same". Sad to say it but you can't please any one now a days.........
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Name:
timmdogg
Comment: I totally agree with the post that stated Oprah's producers are white and don't have a clue about African or black beliefs and history! Sometimes I really like Oprah and there are times I just want to clown on this sister because she loves herself some "white folks"! She is doing a lot of good for people, but damn... you are black and please act it sometimes! I was in the grocery store the other day and saw here magazine "O" at home and to my astonishment she had a "white" woman on the cover of the magazine? I was really upset about this. All of these oggdlooking sister's out there vying for a photo-op and she chooses Becky from Sunnybrook farm....WTF!!!! She needs a reality check and quit catering to whitey all the time.
Nuff said!
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Name:
HarrisThomas
Comment: children whose parents don't want them to adjust to boarding school rules should not attend boarding school . . . if O is acting white, what is acting black?
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Name:
ChicagoLady
Comment: Well, well, well. Oprah crew criticism and rightly so when she said urban American children were far too materialistic and didn't realize the value of education. Now we know who she means when she says "urban children" - those that look like her or like she USED to look. It now seems that African children are just as whinnie and complainsome as those urban children she recently spoke against doesn't it? I can't wait to see how she spins this?
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Name:
B00TANEB00TUS
Comment: LOL mus, I might be a tad perturbed if I couldn't get my Eddy's Butter pecan and Archway oatmeal cookies...I may have to break outta there...
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Name:
ChicagoLady
Comment: Timmdogg - I agree with you to a certain extent. At times it does seem as if O goes out of her way to appeal to the whyte masses all the while forgetting all about people that look like her. She'd be quit to give Rebecca from Sunnybrook a play before Latecia from Compton.
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Name:
PositiveB
Comment: Expect maybe letting the parents visit more often, I wouldn't change a thing. This FREE education these girls are getting could potentially change their destinies, so they should just suck it up and deal with a few sacrifices. Nothing in this world truly worth having comes easy!
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Name:
musbdherbs
Comment: I know that we usually focus on the surface issues. But, let's say that all of this is true, (no candy, limited visitation, no cell phones etc) if the purpose of it all is to create an environment where the girls are primarily focused on leadership, development, establishing relationships w/each other, focusing less on material things, academic success etc, are these things THAT bad...is it NOT worth it. This is NOT about the parents it's about the kids.
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Name:
musbdherbs
Comment: Boot..them damn Archway oatmeal (raisin) cookies are NO JOKE. Pop bout 5 of them bad boyz in microwave so they can get a lil soft...HELLZ YEAH! Another thing, I'm not exactly sure how building an all black school, in black azz Africa, w/an opportunity for lil black azz girls to attend the college of their choice for FREE is "appeasing yt folk"
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: Hi Mothership & et al.!! This whole dilemna can be cleared up if Betty "Clean Up Woman" Wright would go on stage at the Oprah Show and sing her million dollar hit, "No Pain, No Gain" to those complaining Mothers (no pun intended) of South Africa. If ya kain't stand the heat, gettouofda kitchen!!
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Name:
1love
Comment: I co-sign Bootane as well. The rules are in place for a reason. They need to keep these girls focused. Many of them only had one meal a day before and didnt even have indoor plumbing. They are complaining about candy and cell phones? Gimme a break! Im sure some of them are torn too. Maybe their families are asking for stuff. Or theyre hating on the girls now.
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Name:
nylaconnect
Comment: Reading some comments,the attitude of some seems to be O took them off the plantation,they should be happy.Doesnt work that way.I see O's people changin the rules from 2 weeks to 4 weeks between visits,cancelling the show where the young people could let their gripes be known.Leaders should be flexible as should the ones being led
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Name:
musbdherbs
Comment: Oh yeah...since I don't really know the background of the kids. Are they really poverty-stricken girls w/very little opportunities? I'm only asking cuz how the fk they got cell phones! If I ain't had no consistency in meals, thatched roofs over my head and all dat shyt...they could tell my black azz to be totally mute for 8 hours a day. A learning sign language black azz I will be. Fk that!
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Name:
nylaconnect
Comment: Are we saying leaders dont eat candy,cant communicate or visit with their loved ones.This is all much ado about really nothing,both sides need to compromise.However this is probably karma for O's statements about the Black children here.I 'm sure as a child O wasnt as disciplined as she or her people want these kids to be.Remember these are young female children,emphasis on children,who many probably for the first time are away from loved ones.
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Name:
SweetieDarlin
Comment: Okay this story needs to be taken with a grain of salt this seems to be just a few people who are complaining about the rules and in the point of parental visitation they may have a valid point. As far as everyone saying these kids had nothing before they came to school don't you think it's odd that they would complain about treats when according to most people posting they had no treats before? Perhaps they weren't as poor as the media made them out to be, if you think about it what better way to justify starting a school in another country when African Americans feel that a school of this nature would benefits us here but by saying 'oh these kids are soooo poor' consequently more deserving. Anyway at best this shows kids complaints will be kids complaints and people still don't always want to follow rules regardless of whether they may help you in the long run, even if they are soooooo pooooor little african children or these evil spoiled rotten no good african american kids. We will see how this all shakes down but I don't truly see this as a discredit to Oprah except for her comments about American kids, the school is still a good idea and I'm sure it will be a good idea in the states because I will not believe every child in American especially black kids are so bad they don't deserve a chance to take advantage of an oppotunity like this Gee, what better place to teach leadership skills etc but to deserving black children that will benefit the United States, this could even be the start of a better understanding of the two cultures if there's a sister school in the states, think of the cultural exchanges and the enhanced ability to work towards resolving many of the problems all blacks have regardless of country...
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Name:
MissE
Comment: I just finished reading this article and from reading the comments, looks like everyone agree with Oprah and her rules. You can check it out here at www.sowetan.co.za
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Name:
MOTHERSHIP
Comment: Fanteeking, what's up, my dude? That's what's wrong with these brats now. Hit 'em up with a little discipline and they go banannas, and the parents are even worse. Case in point, that Sweet 16 show. I watched a few times and was WTF??? Where are these parents getting all that money to cater to those spoiled idiots. And the way some of them talk to their parents, you would think the damned parent was the child. I truly don't understand the point of "Sweet 16."
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Name:
jess
Comment: No good deed goes unpunished. I'm sure Oprah knew there would be criticism. Everything she does is criticised so she's used to it. I think the white So. African news media made a big deal about this tempest in a teapot because they resent what Oprah is doing...creating LEADERS. Most boarding schools have VERY similar rules and I'm sure the parents were informed of them beforehand. It's not unusual for a child to become homesick or have an adjustment period to a new environment. And as far as the visitors are concerned, security is a high priority and they can't have a thousand people taking over the place every week! Now if there are some young women and their parents who can't take the change, fine, there are young women waiting in line and are willing to "sacrifice" to reach their goals.
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Name:
MediaAgent
Comment: Okay, It's been a while, but I'm gonna put this out there...How about the fact that they just don't want an BLACK AMERICAN doing anything for them? How about that? If someone British would have done the damm thing, they would have been happy. Let's face it, they had to know that the school would be this way. Many countries talk about Americans and how their ways and the consumerism of this country takes over the culture of others (which is correct) However, many Africans do not think Black Americans are "pure"--(At least according to the ones I have witness & overheard here in NYC.). Unfortunately there are divisions between Black in the US and Africans, why the hell is everyone going around the bend? Read between the lines here, I don't know what to say. But I will say this, Oprah (whom I admire) gets what she deserves...the school should have been opened here in the US period.
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Name:
dcdouglass01
Comment: On the point of the school's location, I do think it would have been more beneficial to have built it in America. It would have been in the news regularly, and its graduates would have been an inspiration to those who followed. Oh well. It's not too late. But maybe O felt the "It's-A-Black-Thing" would have been too big of a hurdle in 21st Century America (whenever white folk see an all-Black anything these days, the first thing out of their mouths is "Why is it just for Black people?", as if they've totally forgotten the history of this country).
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Name:
jess
Comment: Miss E - Thanks for the Soweto website. Indeed, people are backing Oprah 100% and aren't shy about speaking their minds.
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Name:
ChocolateBrownGal
Comment: These FEW parents need to decide whether your daughter is gonna stay or pull them. Don't get cocky and spite your nose to save your face. If there daughters had too much freedom, partying, drinking Hypnotiq out of a gourd, slipping out at night to meet boys, and playing spades, they'd complain about that too. We spend too much time paying attention to fools! We can't win for losing.
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: @MissE: Thanks for that website. I checked it out and the majority agree with our majority saying that if they don't want to abide by the rules then they should leave and make room for those worthy student who'd follow the rules. Nobody is holding them there against their will with pointed guns!
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Name:
Victornator
Comment: For all of you who thinks that Oprah should have opened that 40 million dollar school over here, why don't you go to New Orleans next year for the All Star game and get the effort started. Blacks spent more than 40 million dollars this year in Vegas during All Star weekend on partying, gambling, liquor, etc. Maybe you can convince those blacks attending next year's All Star game to contribute to your cause of opening a boarding school for blacks here in America.
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: @Victomator: I know where yo' comin' from. A few years ago, Black Expo, the largest African-American Exposition in the world, had its annual event here in Indianapolis. These Negroes invited George Dumb-ya Bush and gave him the HIGHEST award that they had in their hip pockets!! They over 40 million dollars on hotel rooms, Jack Daniels, restaurants, Frat parties etc. and had a banquet to 'support' Black college students and handed out pauper checks for $1,000. Hell, that ain't even gas fare to your campus!! BabyFace was here and didn't know that George Dumbya was invited!! BabyFace said he'd NEVER return to Black Expo after those Negroes (republican)pulled some shyt like that!!!
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Name:
duckapoo
Comment: Where were all these whining parents when they were forced to sell their kids into slavery to make due? Did they run down to the fields to visit every week? Did they bring their friends? Did their kids dine with cordone bleu chefs? This school is supposed to be for the girls, not their rubbernecking parents and friends. Those rules are not harsh. Anybody who doesn't like it should take their ignorant behinds back to the fields. I am sure there are some girls who are at school because they want to be somebody in this world.
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Name:
OSUN
Comment: There is a simple solution. If you are not happy with the way the school is ran, take your child out. The school doesn't have to bend to the parents will, this is not a publicly funded school. This is a private school and your participation is voluntary. Now I do think the lack parental visit seems extreme, but hey it is one of the guidelines. You do have options.
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Name:
MissBee
Comment: I can see that all the ones complaining about the visitation policy don't have a clue about what boarding school is. In the states, unless you live down the block, you only see or hear from your child sporadicly. Those girls can write letters all day long. That is what boarding school is. Obviously there was a problem that was created with the parents visiting so often otherwise they wouldn't have changed it. All the parents are poor so it's no telling what they would ask those girls for when they would visit. And everyone knows that kids shouldn't have cell phones because they are a big distraction.
I say if you don't like the rules, then take your azz back to home! People get a little bit of stuff and think they can make policy.
And with the obesity rate being what it is for our children here in the US, we need to leave the Snickers alone. Just because you are a kid does not mean you are entitled to unhealthy candy.
Can't give people nuthin'!!!!!
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Name:
LazySusan
Comment: I want to thank whichever poster that gave out that South African site. I looked at it and found it interesting that so many posters did not believe these kids truly came from disadvantaged backgrounds. I'm no expert, but I kind of thought something was a bit off when I saw how nice and white those girls teeth were and how well kept up their skin was. And these were some of the same girls who claimed they only ate once a week and shyt! O, or whoever she has working for her, should have done better background checks of the students family finances. But the posters seemed appreciative of Oprah's generosity. Also...this IS bad karma coming back to bite O in the azz. There are plenty of nice, disadvantaged youth in this country that never get the chance to shine. They know how to say ma'am and thank you, but all you hear about is the trouble makers. I don't believe for one second, O visited any kids and heard that carp about Ipods and such. This is the same woman I watched flinch, when the Black survivors of Hurricane Katrina wanted to hug her. O, better than anyone, should've known better when she made that ignorant azz comment.
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Name:
1love
Comment: YOU ALL SAYING OPRAH NEEDS TO GIVE TO KIDS HEAR??? LISTEN UP. Oprah has given MORE than 40 million to black kids in this country. She has donated many millions to black colleges and put many children through school in this country. Check yourself. There is proof that she has given MORE to children in this country then anywhere else. You just cant make black people happy. All she does is give, and nothing she does is good enough for black people.
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Name:
FiveMore
Comment: @LazySusan, She flinched at the touch of "black" Hurricaine survivors!(Oh loves her some white folks,though)Say it aint so,MissO!I must have missed that episode/show.
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Name:
OSUN
Comment: Fivemore I watched the Hurricane coverage as well and I didn't notice any flinch or lurching back at the horror of poor desperate black people attempting to touch her. I guess I must have turned the channel on that part. I guess that is why she built subdivisons and gave so much money to the victims, to assuage her guilt at the rebuff of the touch of "black". People are ludicrous at times.
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Name:
MissBee
Comment: I saw those episodes and you can't tell me that she flinched because they touched her. Give me a break! First of all, you don't know what was going on in her head if her flinching indeed did actually happen. And that is a big IF. They could have stepped on her foot. We all know that she has some messed up feet, lol, and I would have done alot more than flinch if that was the case.
And the comment on the white teeth and such... The diets that they eat over there is WAY better than the processed food crap that we indulge in here. People's teeth start off white and then with bad diet, candy, pop, and all that other crap, our teeth turn colors. White teeth here is largely a byproduct of having money because you have to PAY to have them instead of having them naturally. But I don't buy that for one minute that those families have enough money to have such a vain procedure done. For all we know, if they did have teeth whitening done, Oprah probably paid for it.
I have confidence in has Oprah has said those girls' circumstances are but if the woman wants to have a school for girls who already have money, then that is her prerogative. But I highly doubt that is the case.
Also, Oprah's show is about affluence. And unfortunately, the proportion of black folk to white folk who are affluent is obviously lopsided. I can't hate and don't. So, she does not love on some white people. She loves on some money. Big difference.
Personally, I don't want her to do jack for me or my kids. That is my job and I don't need a handout from anyone. It's all about priorities. Our hoods don't need her to do anything either. The hood needs its own people to give a d@mn about its community to make it better and also to care about education.
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Name:
mybag
Comment: THIS IS INTENDED FOR OPRAH.
I STILL LOVE AND ADMIRE YOU FOR ALL YOU TRY TO DO FOR THE DISADVANTAGED. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY WHEN I WAS THEIR AGE.
YOU CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR SOME PEOPLE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE SHEER UNGRATEFULNESS!!!! LET THEM GO HOME TO WHAT THEY HAD PRIOR TO COMING TO YOUR SCHOOL AND GIVE THE OPENING TO SOMEONE WHO APPRECIATES IT!! BETTER YET, MOVE IT TO THE USA!!!!
I'll sign my name:
Christine Harris
Columbus, OH
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Name:
SweetieDarlin
Comment: MissBee, good for you being able to take care of your own, however that is not always the case which I'm sure you well know. If it was easy as giving a darn about your own community and education no one in the entire world would need anything from anyone ever once they so chose to give a darn. Lazy Susan was not implying that any one of the children had a teeth whitening process but a poor diet can cause tooth problems, her point being that the children apparently had a decent diet to assure good teeth health. All teeth problems are not caused by processed foods and sweets in poverty level countries poor dental health is caused by poor nutrition or improper nutrition and since most of the posters are claiming that before Oprah the children were in huts eating mud and ants or what ever other stereotype people chose to use it would stand to reason that their teeth would be in poor condition due to their lack of nutrition. Usually when you see people in poorer countries they have discolored, missing teeth even at an early age.
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Name:
Reds
Comment: I think Americans have a false impression of life in a third world country. People everywhere enjoy freedom and happiness. Having access to cell phones and computer is OK, but at the end of the day, kids everywhere just want to enjoy their freedom. They would rather have their freedom to go out and play soccer bare-footed on some gravel field with their friends, hang out late in the evenings and then go home to parents who show them love. They are not going to substitute that for the "privilege" of living in a boarding school where they are treated like prisoners and fed some boring "health" diet. They don't care if you take back your computer and your living accommodation. That is what Americans fail to see about these so called third world countries. People there are happy being free, despite their so called "poverty."
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Name:
MOTHERSHIP
Comment: Red, but ain't nobody drag them to join the school. If don't want to be up in that piece, move out the way and let somebody who want to participate be down.
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Name:
TMan
Comment: This sounds like somebody trying to start some -ish. Don't believe the hype!
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Name:
lovegeter
Comment: from what I saw on the interview and when she chose them, they had nothing to eat, were afraid of their suroundings, and had a very dim fyture. Their parents knew the rules going forward, now they do not like them??? Pleaseeeeee! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for those girls and they are complaining?? They should be grateful. They now have shelter, food, indoor plumbing, clothes, and none of the things they have are cheap! So they would rather exchange tight security for what they had previously- the fear of being raped on the way to school???? Please, Oprah promised all whom graduates from this school she will send them to college-- all expenses paid--where ever they choose-- so are the parents still going to complain??/
Get over it and get an education.
Oprah watch it, next they may try to sue you!
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Name:
prettieyez
Comment: I was watching the Mike and Juliette Show this a.m. on Fox and a contributor from US Magazine was on there and she broke this whole story down. There are only two parents complaining. This is an ACADEMY like most academies there are strict rules. Same here at the Oprah Academy. What's wrong with eating healthy? The majority of the students in school in the U S Of A are overweight. I'm sure if these kids were taken out of the school some other's will be more than happy to take their spots. That's whats wrong with all these kids today they have too much freedom and not enought responsibility. After watching the special about the school all of these girls are very responsible young ladies. They are greatful to be able to attend. Furthermore, all the parents knew about the rules before they came to the school. If I were these girls I'd just suck it up. To have running hot water and electricity is a delicacy for all of those attending.
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Name:
cornbread
Comment: ALL YOU LAZY AZZ BLACK MUTHA FUKKAZ NEED TO GET UP OFF YOUR AZZ AND STOP LOOKING FOR FUKKIN HAND OUTS. IF OPRAH GAVE YOU ALL OF HER MONEY, YOU MUTHA FUKKAZ WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING POSITIVE WITH IT BUT WASTE IT ON WEED, BIITCHEZ, CARS, AND RIMS. YOU MENTALLY ENSLAVED MUTHA FUKKAZ MAKE A TON OF MONEY OFF OF HIP HOP AND THE YOUNG BLACK GENERATION IS SLOWLY DETERIORATING WITH THE BULLSHIIT Y'ALL ARE FEEDING THEM. OPRAH IS TRYING HER BEST TO CHANGE THE WORLD. SHE TRIED HERE IN THE US AND Y'ALL MUTHA FUKKAZ FUKKED IT UP. NOW SHE HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY TO AFRICA WHERE THEY WILL APPRECIATE IT MORE.
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: To My Loving Sister Oprah: God bless you and continue to keep you in good health. You are an angel from heaven sent down to help the lowly and downtrodden. If you walked on water and parted the Red Sea, there still would be complainers. I love your humanity dearly.
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Name:
rikyrah
Comment: Having attended a boarding school when I was fourteen, nearly everything in your life is regulated: chapel, eating time, school time, study time, athletic time, bed time. The only time you got time for yourself was on Saturday, after class was over. And, that lasted less than 24 hours because Sunday brought rules back. When we wanted to leave, we had to have umpteen notes from the place we were going, and NO, the parents COULD NOT just drop in at any time. There weren't cellphones back in, and not even phones in the individual rooms. We had to share a few hall phones. And, being only 14 when I left, I had horrible homesickness. I cried nearly every day for the first 2 months. But, I bucked it up, worked it out, and pushed through. Also, you have to remember that these girls are used to being THE STARS of their schools. They have now been thrown in an environment where they are just ONE of 152....where ALL the the girls are STARS.... in addition to what I believe is probably a challenging curriculum. It's rough, getting adjusted to that. It was shock to my 'smart-a$$' system too...being around and competing with so many talented folks. It took me a semester to get my bearings...it's a big adjustment for the girls. They need to get a grip and appreciate the opportunity.
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Name:
rikyrah
Comment: $40 Million spent on any school ,should accomadate more than 150 children.This school should have no less than 2 thousand students,because it's a waste of money and time to construct a school for $40 million dollars ,with only 150 students.Oprah should have known better.******** Eddie, America and Europe are littered with schools like Oprah's. They have names like Phillip Exeter, Phillips Andover, Choate, Groton, St. Paul's, The Stevenson School, Miss Porter's. Have you seen any of these schools? To build a school like that from scratch, in today's terms, would cost upwards of $40 million dollars. And, none of them, remotely have a student population approaching 2,000. If they have a student population of 1,000, that is stretching it. There is a point as to why the school populations are limited. Rich, Privileged White folk determined long ago that the best way to educate students is in SMALL classrooms, which is why their classes sizes tap out at 15 or 16. Oprah has said that her Academy will ultimately house 450-500 girls, when all classes, 7-12 are there.
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Name:
phalcon7
Comment: where are the stories on the white boarding schools trying to help these kids. it's a boarding school!!! take your butt back to your seat and shut-up. if you have a better chance at education somewhere else... go get it. mind you... the whites in South Africa don't mind if this whole thing fails... their kids weren't invited. look for more failures in the future.
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Name:
keysgreatq
Comment: Ajustments take time. Remember these are young girls at the brink of womanhood. Personal hygiene,and the telephone, a top priority, that is a problem in American homes. Study and make the sacrafice now. It is a lot easier than you think. The time will fly by so fast. You are freer than you think. The candy will give you cavities and you don't want that! Too much sugar will make you sluggish, you can not do your school work. The best to you all. Give your GIFT a chance.
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