[PHOTO BY: Khetha "Bouga" Mkhize]
Just two months after its highly-publicized opening, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls is coming under more criticism.
According to the upset parents, the strict rules of the Academy are hurting their relationship with their children.
SOME OF THE RULES
- Cellphones and e-mail correspondence are out of bounds during the week, and girls are only allowed to phone their parents on weekends.
- Parents can only visit their child once a month.
- The maximum number of visitors per pupil is four, and visits have to be approved by the school at least two weeks in advance.
- Parents are not allowed to smuggle junk food in to the girls past the matrons. (Their diet is fruit, yogurt and sandwiches)
[SOURCE]
Angela Conradie, whose daughter Michelle is at the school, says she’s just as upset about the strict visiting times.
“Michelle phones me in tears sometimes, and then I don’t know what to say to her,” says Conradie. [READ MORE]
Another concern for parents is the preservation of their culture. Some parents wanted “some aspects of African life and norms” to be considered by Winfrey. “Everything she has done so far has been wonderful and we are grateful for that, but I am praying that one of these days there will be a parents’ meeting where we can discuss the progress of the children and how to handle issues of culture,” said a grandmother who did not want to be identified.
She said there had been a death in her family recently and she had asked for the child to be allowed to attend the funeral, but she was refused because “it must be a member of the immediate family”. [SOURCE]
This sounds more like a behavior modification program than a school.
oh hel naw, oprah on some real nun type shit. ppl gotta make a fuckin appointment to see they kids?
I wonder if the penalty is death for taking your child out of this so-called school.
i totally agree with you Daphne. The school is getting a little out of hand. Oprah wants to be known and recognized as a positive and influential person so bad that she sometimes go to the extremes to get there. We already know, and established who she is.
HAHA WHAT THE BIG O SAYS GOES JUST ASK STEDMAN & LUDA,
The Parents CAN pull their daughters out of the school at ANY time.
Oprah Winfrey does PAY for the child to go to that school.
Her School, HER rules
LOL @ #3.
I love what Oprah is doing, but damn those rules are ridiculous! What is the harm in letting the girl go to her family member’s funeral? And visitations must be approved 2 weeks in advance? Damn.
MOST Bording Schools have similar rules…
People are only making a big deal out of it because the Owner of the School is a BLACK WOMAN named Oprah Winfrey
Lord help the girl who even dares to sneak out wid the boys late at night…….Oprah gna kill that bitch for real
The people complaining are black too Bill.
Oprah is alright with me, but some of those rules are a little crazy. I’m still trippin you can’t attend a family members funeral, unless they are your immediate family.
Oprah is doing a wonderful thing, and my son went to a boarding school and they had the same rules. The only thing is i didnt have to do a 2week request.
NO BILL PUT YOUR RACE CAR AWAY FOR THIS ONE. OCRAH’S RULES ARE JUST FUCKING RIDDICULOUS.SHE’S NOT RUNNING A NUNNERY.MOST BOARDINGS SCHOOLS DON’T HAVE RULES LIKE THIS THAT ARE ALMOST AGAINST FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS. NO CALLS DURING THE WEEK?GTFOH
MY PARENTS SAW MY LITTLE BROTHER AT LEAST 3 TIMES A MONTH WHEN HE WAS JAILED FOR ASSAULT. THIS SHIT IS JUST RIDDICULOUS POWER TRIPPING AND SHE DESERVES TO BE PUT ON BLAST
Bill is correct, boarding schools are strict.
It’s good to see the informative Bill again. That ‘other’ Bill was a little too much for me.
#10 Angel
that’s exactly the point.
IGNORANT, UNDICIPLINED, SEXIST, RACIST BLACK PEOPLE ARE BARKING ON OPRAH BECAUSE SHE’S OPRAH.
If the academy was run by whites, this would most likely be a positive press release instead of an accusation slinging drama fest.
PARENTS: BY ALL MEANS, MONITOR YOUR CHILDREN. MAKE SURE THE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING BY THE GUIDELINES THAT I’M SURE THEY PROVIDED TO YOU. IF YOU DONT LIKE THE RULES OF THE GAME, TAKE YOUR CHILDREN OUT THE SCHOOL. IT’S THAT SIMPLE. DONT TALK SHIT TRYING TO THROW THE FLAME DOWN OPRAH’S BACK SO THAT SHE CAN CHANGE HER SCHOOL RULES INTO YOUR SCHOOL RULES.
REMEMBER, IT’S THE ORPAH WINFREY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
I guess my question is: were the parents informed of the rules before they enrolled their daughters? Like during the application process?
To me that sounds like these kids are in prison…
Some of those rules were implemented at my school too. We weren’t allowed to go to any funerals unless they were immediate family members or else it would be unexcused or we would have to serve like some type of punishment, but did we go anyways? Hell to the yes we did. It’s all about choices. if the rules are that bad, The parents can pull their children away from the school at any time.
I still & will always love me some Oprah.
BILL IS NOT CORRECT DOUCHEBAG
U PROBABLY HAVEN’T EVEN BEEN TO SCHOOL NEVER MIND BOARDING SCHOOL
Oprah is making leaders for the future. I can totally understand why she’d want them to focus on their studies — they need a structured environment.
I work with an girl from Ghana and she studied in Australia. She didn’t have contact with her family while she was away and she says both she and her family understood and agreed that it was best that way. She needed to be 100% completely focused and if she had had to deal with all their drama and issues, she would have been torn (emotionally) and wanted to return to her country.
Also, I’d like to point out that most of these girls at O’s Leadership Academy didn’t come from ideal backgrounds. It’s probably best that you have to make an appointment to see your child. They have to protect the safety of the girls… you don’t want people coming and going whenever they want. PLUS, you know how black folks are, we’d get up in that nice plush place and not want to leave and go back to a grimy shack in the ‘ghetto’.
I’m sure O’s just doing her best to cultivate the leaders of the new generation. Cut her some slack.
Yes, I agree that some of these rules are even stricter than the boarding school norm, but why is everyone so eager to attack Oprah immediately?
She isn’t the one administering the rules from her lair in Chicago, now is she? When it’s definitively stated that the rules were put into place by Oprah herself, then y’all can go to town. But it seems people are just in too much of a hurry to attack her on this one.
Boarding schools may be strict but this is ridiculous it ain’t prison. Rules are meant to ensure kids behave and know their boundaries, not to punish.
Most kids I knew in boarding school saw their parents once a week, once a month is insane and they should be allowed to correspond with them as much as they want once those kids have complete whatever is expected of them.
As if it isn’t hard enough for kids and parents when they go off to boarding school.
I went to an all girls boarding school in Africa, these rules are exactly the same… well except we could only have visiting sunday every other month and it’s 4 people at a time, so you could rotate out two people and visit 6,8,10 people on one day. They do it to avoid disruptions for the girls.
Oprah is a controlling bitch 4 that one…
they should be able to handle it. i know many asian people who went to school all of their lives in england while their families stayed in asia so they didn’t get to see their families but they’re fine now so what’s the problem. they should be happy for what they have. i saw the special on tv about this school and these girls are living it up. working hard, but still living it up.
I dont get what the big deal is. I am sure they knew what the rules were before they went to the school. I ams sure they had to get there parents permission before starting school. I didnt see one sad face on the special when she opened up the school. Oprah is opening up things some of these girls have never even seen before. If they have a problem with the rules then they should pack there things up leave everything that Oprah gave them and go home its that simple. If you are going to say something bad about a person you shouldnt want to hide your name if there is any truth to it. JMO
Yeah @ Daphne #3. Winnie Mandela’s the Dean and punishment is ‘necklacing’ with a burning tire.
the last rule is outrageous!
even their diet?
even yogurt, sandwiches, and fruit is not a well rounded diet! where is the meat?
what about cereal?
that must be for just snack time…..
ill be damned if someone would interfere with my love, FOOD…u mess with my food, we are fighting! they already are starved as it is
I would like to thank #21 for sharing. It would be really easy for us to judge not knowing what other boarding school in Africa are doing. I won’t comment on if I agree with the rules or not, but as someone already said…life is about choices. and that is something that we need to teach to our children. If the parents are really that unhappy about the school that O is paying for them to go to, take them out! I’m sure there is another girl waiting for the opurtunity to go there.
I don’t know if you guys got a chance to see the documentary on Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls, which was shown on ABC on February 26 (You may be able to find it on YouTube)
Did you know that Oprah Spent $40 Million Dollars to build this school!!!
Oprah is fulfilling a PROMISE that she made to Nelson Mandela to build this school.
The school has 152 students, with a potential to grow to 450.
Oprah pays for EVERY student’s tuition !!!
Ophra is a modern day missionary. She is doing God’s work.
I wish I could fly MY daughter over to Africa to attend this school!
Future Leaders really don’t need the distractions of cell phones, television or constant visit.
Oprah is trying to create an environment that fosters learning.
Who would take offense with that?
Here’s a short clip that I found that document’s Oprah’s extrodinary effort to build a school for FUTURE LEADERS.
Oprah Winfrey school in Africa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW8uUylZ6hg
God BLESS Oprah Winfrey and the work that she is doing !!
How many people do YOU know that is BUILDING SCHOOLS and EDUCATING YOUNG BLACK GIRLS.
As far as I’m concerned, Oprah is doing a GOOD THING !!!
Peace
Most boarding schools have these rules. I personally don’t believe in kids having cell phones much less eating junk food on a regular basis. These rules are not strick we are just too spoiled.
yeah Tito, i’m thinking that’s snack time. i’m sure O is feeding them, she likes to grub too!
I think the best thing Oprah and her staff can do is have a meeting with the parents to address their concerns. Let everyone get their questions and comments out in the open and then if the parents don’t agree they can remove their children from the school. The worst thing Oprah can do is ignore them b/c they’ll keep running to the media and you know the media is itching to report anything negative on Oprah.
Well I Think the rules are little strict but that is a total privilege. These children are getting an opportunity that many children in Africa aren’t getting. For the first time these children have a nice place to sleep and food to eat.
It’s called boarding school!And these are typical boarding school rules! Well lemme re-phrase that they are typical boarding school rules in Jamaica, and those of us who went through them, did not die, we actually came out the better for it thank you very much!
people in prison have more, damn. LOl.
those are the rules of boarding schools in africa i actually think this is fair, i mean i used to be in a posh international boarding school in ma country and i was more stict than that and that is how the vistations are yr people only vist u once a month to bring you grab like health drinks and more things
COSIGNING WITH EVERYONE WHO KNOWS HOW BOARDING SCHOOLS ARE…
Oprah can do whatever the hell she wants with HER school. These girls are getting the BEST of the BEST and if it’s too tough, I’m sure there are several other children on a waiting list just PRAYING to take their place. To even THINK that people are complaining about this petty crap is pathetic. Go read a book and let Oprah do her thang!!
But we sure as hell got more to eat than yogurt, fruit and sandwiches… there were three square meals per day, and your tuck (food you got from your home) had to conform to the rules.
#32 BILL,
AND YOU ARE CORRECT!
OPRAH IS DOING GOD’S WORK ON EARTH.
OPRAH BUILT AN ENTIRE BLOCK FILLED WITH BRAND NEW, FULLY DECORATED HOUSES FOR HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS. SHE GAME THEM ALL A BRAND NEW START IN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WAY. IT WAS AMAZING BECAUSE THE WOMAN SAID, “OPRAH IS AN EARTH ANGEL.”
I AGREE.
NOT TO FORGET THE FACT THAT SHE PUBLICALLY PLEDGED DURING THAT CBS SPECIAL TO SEND THE GRADUATES TO ANY COLLEGE OF THIER CHOICE!
THAT’S HOW YOU DO THE DAMN THING.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE MANY THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT THE DISTINGUISHED MS. ORPAH WINFREY.
SHE IS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL.
#29 Nick: Most boarding schools have these rules. I personally don’t believe in kids having cell phones much less eating junk food on a regular basis. These rules are not strick we are just too spoiled.
^^^I agree. American public schools don’t enforce these rules and Americans are quite spoiled so of course we all would think these rules are strict. I would give the girls more visitation rights though for their parents.
Watch the Clip that I posted from start to finish…
Oprah Winfrey school in Africa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW8uUylZ6hg
One of the little girl’s attending Oprah Winfrey school lived in a one room hut with no electricity, and no running water…..
Oprah Winfrey BUILT a school at the cost of $40 MILLION DOLLARS.
You should see this school…It is amazing what Oprah Winfrey has done !!!
DUMBASSES THIS IS A BOARDING SCHOOL. THAT’S HOW BOARDING SCHOOLS ARE RUN. PARENTS KNOW THIS BEFORE THEY ADMIT THESE SCHOOLS.
VISITORS HAVE TO BE APPROVED BECAUSE OF KIDNAPPINGS, MURDER AND RAPE. Criminials would love to kidnap these girls and hold them for ransom. They know Oprah would fork over money.
THESE GIRLS ARE NOT BEING HELD AGAINST THEIR WILL. If they don’t like it then they can FUCKING LEAVE!
MY BROTHER WENT TO MILITARY BOARDING SCHOOLS AND THE RULES WERE WORSE. The first year it’s always the worse. After that, they get less strict! If the parents don’t like it they can leave!
Those girls should be on some kind of diet. A lot of them were obese as hell.
I learned not to belive everything I read on the enternet. this is totally not true. I hope you guys dont actually belive this horse shit story.
There may be strict rules, but with some rewards there are some sacrifices. If it is that bad, they can always leave — there is a whole lot of little girls and parents who would quickly take their place.
Please view the conditions that most of these students and their families are living in, and then make the judgement. Many of the students and their families don’t even have ANY food on regular basis, and based on what I saw, none of the parents or families have running water let alone, a PC for email or a telephone.
This seems like more propaganda just to criticize Oprah yet again.
The devil is always busy.
@42 VOO:
Read the story online:
http://www.news24.com/New...,2-7-1442_2081757,00.html
gosh .. let oprah do her thang it`s her money.
Look Billy I’ve been in boarding school and the rules were not this extreme. Boarding schools do not monitor your food intake! Usually in Boarding schools you are allowed to see and contact your parents as often as you like just as long as it does not interfere with your schoolwork and classes. Oprah isn’t getting negative feedback about this because she is black. She’s getting bad reviews about the school because these rules are similar to the rules in concentration camps. Wait until mid school year, we are going to be hearing about students having breakdowns and or running away because of these restraints. Furthermore, children and students in general do well in caring and loving environments. Yes I am all for the best education for our youth, but they need emotional stability and support from their parents to do their best. Hell I’m a 20 yr old college student and I need to see my mom more than once I month and hear from her through out the week.
You’re right, Bill. I did see the special on this wonderful school. These girls are getting the chance of a lifetime. Yes, they are learning discipline and as far as the meals are concerned, most of them only ate one meal a day when they were at home.
I think Oprah is doing a wonderful thing and as many have stated, their parents can pull them out at any time. Who said life was going to be easy? It takes a lot a sacrifice to come great. Yes, we are a spoiled nation.
Unfortunately many of these families were so happy that their children were accepted that they never took the time to understand what attending the school would entail. Oprah has done a wonderful thing in building this school. The children will appreciate it…if not now, then later. They are children, so I am sure it is a huge adjustment for them. It is for their own good though.
I will echo what many others have said about the children’s ability to leave and give another child the opportunity that they can’t handle. If they leave I guarantee that they will regret it!
Oh the other hand, that’s really sad about not being able to attend the funeral. Wonder if they could have gone, with consequences? I would have taken the consequences.
on Sunday, March 11, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
47. SassyTeri said:
——————————————————————————–
You’re right, Bill. I did see the special on this wonderful school. These girls are getting the chance of a lifetime. Yes, they are learning discipline and as far as the meals are concerned, most of them only ate one meal a day when they were at home.
I think Oprah is doing a wonderful thing and as many have stated, their parents can pull them out at any time. Who said life was going to be easy? It takes a lot a sacrifice to come great. Yes, we are a spoiled nation.
Bill Said:
Thank You Sassy Teri.
The children are eating three square meals a day, have running water, electricity, computers and they are getting a FREE EDUCATION.
If you did not see the doucmentary, then you REALLY would not understand where the children came from and the AMAZING OPPORTUNITY they have in front of them.
If the Parent and/or children don’t like the rules, they can always drop out…
I’m sure there would be another African Girl MORE THAN WILLING to take their place..
Heck, I wish MY 13 year old daughter could go to that school !!!
Furthermore, when will Americans start taking care of our own? The American Education system is in shambles that 40 million could have went a long way here. I don’t understand why many rich Americans are compelled to help out Africa and other foreign countries when we need to be addressing the problems we have here before we fix another countries problems. Granted this is a noble act and she’s paying for these African girls to get the best education. What about our American kids! It seems to me that every body that can make a difference in this country abandons it.
Oprah is being lenient by giving the girls opportunity to go to her school and learn. Where they come from not much education is being taught, so be grateful. They will apperciate it in years to come, they’ll understand all they went through and the reason for. Many young girls want that opportunity, if you don’t take someone else will.
Going to that school is a ‘privilege’ that little girls from the USA to China to Mexico would give anything to attend.
Oprah is doing something very unique! Thus, some of her rules will likely (and should) be unique!
She is trying to create an ‘elite African Woman’. This idea, in itself, is a debate for another time.
She wants…
1. FOCUSED (e.g. limit the endless calls / emails from families and little boyfriends)
2. HEALTHY (e.g. limit the junk food)
3. SELF-RELIANT (e.g. limit the procession-line of visits from families and little boyfriends)
Btw, the RULES she proposes, are not that unique. Many boarding schools have similar rules. I attended boarding school.
Regardless, I am sure that Oprah will address any cultural issues creatively and effectively.
You’re welcome, Bill. You hit the head on the nail. This is an opportunity in a lifetime. Hopefully they won’t let it slip through.
Okay, the parents of these girls that are complaining can always take their kid out of school and put them back in whatever hell hole of a classroom they used to be in. These girls have running water, a bed to themselves, 3 meals a day, plus, Oprah is going to pay for their college education after they graduate. From the ABC special, this school seems to be better than any school in America or the world for that matter. I thought Lady O said that African kids appreciated education more than American kids, so what the hell are they complaining about?
Daphne said:
——————————————————————————–
Furthermore, when will Americans start taking care of our own? The American Education system is in shambles that 40 million could have went a long way here. I don’t understand why many rich Americans are compelled to help out Africa and other foreign countries when we need to be addressing the problems we have here before we fix another countries problems. Granted this is a noble act and she’s paying for these African girls to get the best education. What about our American kids! It seems to me that every body that can make a difference in this country abandons it.
Bill Said:
Daphne,
I TRYING real hard not to do a cut & paste (I don’t want Angel to be mad at me), but WHO do you think STARTED all the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in THIS Country ??
Do a Google Search on HBCU
then
Do a google search on BLACK CHARTER SCHOOLS !!
* Rev. Floyd Flake (Among OTHERS) have Founded Black Charter Schools in THIS COUNTRY
They make the school seem like a boot camp or the kids are being punished for something. Especially the funeral thing was ridiculous. I would take my child out by that point.
I’m not surprised. The rules sound too strict for younger girls.
BUT, Oprah doesn’t have any of her own kids, just a f*kkin dog, so she wouldn’t be able to sypmathize, would she?
I love the idea of the school, but I can’t help but feel that if the school were for YT’s she’d be WAY more accomodating and understanding of their culture.
It shouldn’t be a big issue. If the parents don’t like what is going on —– TAKE YOUR CHILD OUT! I’m sure Oprah’s got a list a mile long of other girls who would take their place in a heartbeat.
If you are going to complain, take them out! I don’t want to hear your whining about this! It is a boarding school, it’s going to be strict!