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- Kinser, on 10/12/2007, -294/+63I think she should just go live in Africa.. We defintaly don't need her here.
- canadianguy33, on 10/12/2007, -41/+142HA! Do you really think you contribute more to your country than Oprah?
- mutatron, on 10/12/2007, -11/+234@Kinser
But she's right, at least partly. The main reason people think public schools are bad is because "inner city" children don't value a free education. It's actually what the kids today call "ghetto" kids, not just inner city. Here in the Dallas area it also affects some of the poor outlying suburbs and also some of the outer city schools.
It isn't a racial thing, I know a teacher who teaches in a predominantly white suburb where most of the kids have the same attitude about school as most of the black and Mexican kids where my daughter to school. And at my daughter's school the blacks were more likely to care about their education than the Mexicans (not hispanic-americans), whereas the blacks at some other schools didn't care at all.
I say it isn't racial because I know of schools where most of the black kids care just as much about education as most of the white kids. It all depends on their economic situation and their parents. The problem, for Oprah, is that the kids who care don't need the help, but the ones who need the help don't want it. Why should she throw money away on kids who aren't going to benefit from it? - Fascist, on 10/12/2007, -24/+61If you go to a random high school in middle America, and asked every student there if they liked school, I bet you'd get solid 60% of them saying no.
- krunchy, on 10/12/2007, -23/+102All five of the black kids at my school care.
- ImTheDarkcyde, on 10/12/2007, -5/+115"If you go to a random high school in middle America, and asked every student there if they liked school, I bet you'd get solid 60% of them saying no."
I'm guessing closer to 95%
I sure as hell didn't like school, but I value the education it brough me. - blogger1947, on 10/12/2007, -0/+78@Fascist - There is a bit of difference between "liking school" and realizing the value of an education.
For one thing, the lessons learned in schools are not always the ones intended. As often as not, students learn that they system itself is flawed and run by incompetents.
For another, when thugs (e.g., rappers and professional athletes) get pushed through school as a preamble to their lucrative entertainment careers, students see that the gangsta attitude is what gets them ahead; not diligent work. So how could any teen be expected to say other than that school is a bore, or at best a necessary evil? - illt, on 10/12/2007, -3/+24another problem is, most south africans who are educated, leave the country.
braindrain ftl. - timo1023, on 10/12/2007, -13/+6@mutatron
You are SO right (+digg). Some might call it racist, but it's the truth in most situations. - TheUngod, on 10/12/2007, -5/+22I agree with what she said about inner city kids not caring enough about education, but spending 40 million on under 200 girls? From what I remember, South Africa had lots of problems with the educated rich class vs. the poor ones, far moreso than in the US. Giving these few girls this much advantage certainly isn't helping the country overcome that tradition. Granted, before it was mainly a Black/White issue, but this isn't much better. She'd have been better off building 20 schools for 2 million and educating a lot more people than giving a couple hundred girls a beauty salon.
- scootinger, on 10/12/2007, -9/+57And African girls deserve her charity more than African boys?
- GruntboyX, on 10/12/2007, -26/+11yeah yeah...oprah is wonderful. Its a tax write-off. Shes only generous because her accountants tell her to be to work around the tax loop holes. But in her businness any generosity...no mattter motive plugs her ratings fuelling her popularity and therefore wealth. So in a wierd way the American Tax payer is proping up the oprah empire. Yay! to our tax system!
...sigh.... - dagonweb, on 10/12/2007, -15/+6More evidence of a decadent country falling apart. Oprah is one of the last caring, sensible charitable souls over there. The rest is stockpiling weapons and HDTVs and cholesterol.
Sure the kids have lost hope. US society is massively consolidated by the rich. Their chances to get a slice of the pie are over; they know they gonna end up as burgerflippers for a few years, and beyond that downsized and with a few months of wellfare.
In a few years these same kids are going to care. Care enough to buy themselves some big cannisters of synthetic fertillizer and look with keen interest at some government buildings. - meshgiath, on 10/12/2007, -27/+57Regardless of the goods or bads of what Oprah is doing, ultimately she isn't aiding "the world" - she's aiding her own interests - African women. Not any other country's women, not African men, not men at all.
Yay for racially biased feminism.
Who cares about helping the world when I can just forward one gender of one race? Sound familiar to anyone? Little mustache? Late 1930's to mid-1940's? Yeah. I went there. - jkenneth, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10School and education are entirely separate things, especially in the US.
- poxonyou, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I went to a middle school and 2 high schools (one closer to the inner city was actually ranked better than the one I was assigned in the suburbs) where not caring about grades was de facto...if you did, you were a minority outcast. I fell into the groupthink, but had second thoughts in 9th grade and got back in the right classes and switched high schools. The 2nd was a slight improvement in some areas.
I agree groupthink is a large part of the problem (not the only part of course). Most kids want to fit in and be popular, or at least not get picked on. If you're around a bunch of kids determined to get into ivy league schools, the only way to fit in is to join them, the only way to gain attention is to have the best grades. If you're around people who award avoiding class, showing up as late as possible, sliding by just enough to pass on to the next grade, you'll be the outcast nerdy loser. If you can put up with that for most of your childhood with hopes you'll go on to something better, good for you, but I think many rather avoid the humiliation, go with the flow, and enjoy their life at the moment. - ayeroxor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Fascist: "If you go to a random high school in middle America, and asked every student there if they liked school, I bet you'd get solid 60% of them saying no."
Yeah, but here's the difference. Ask well-adjusted kids if they'd mind if they were kicked out of school or otherwise caused to never see another day of school. Most would cry. Well-adjusted kids like the social aspect of a structured society.
In poor neighborhoods however, the dropout rate alone should tell you that these kids just don't give a *****. Tell them Oprah wants to buy them new school books and they'd probably just think of the funniest way to vandalize them. - duniyadnd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11@meshgiath: You're absolutely right.. South Africa only has one race.. they don't have white people.. the white girls they showed on tv were just planted there and they're actually card board cut outs. Racially motivated my ass.
- Mr.Ortiz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15"African women. Not any other country's women"
Who's digging this jackass up?
1. Africa isn't a country. She's helping South African women. Maybe Oprah should give you a few bucks to take a geography class.
2. Charity is much more effective when it has a tight focus. You can do a lot for a small group of people or a little for a lot of people. The more people you help, the less you help each one, even on an Oprah-sized budget. Oprah has CHOSEN to help a very small group of people, and help them a LOT, with her own money. That is her right.
3. Whoever writes this blog hates Oprah. The last sentence in the article (which most people won't read) is "Winfrey has also supplied millions of dollars to educate needy children in the U.S. through the Oprah Winfrey Scholars program.” - spidoman, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12Congrats black inner city communities, Oprah has given up on you now.
Honestly, the single woman lives in a $51 million estate the size of Disneyland is saying that American kids are too focused on material goods.
Her entire argument is just so ridiculous. I don't even know where to start. Of course American inner city kids don't have much of a desire for a school, picture it this way:
Someone says this is the most amazing pie ever, here have it. You taste it, it's crap. (American inner city schools) Then someone comes up and says here you want this other pie, it's the most amazing pie ever. Are you going to want that pie? No. Now that person goes up to someone who has never had the pie. Of course they are going to accept it gladly. Well at least Oprah realizes that America is still stupid enough to agree with anything she says. - mickoes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7@ayeroxor : "In poor neighborhoods however, the dropout rate alone should tell you that these kids just don't give a *****. Tell them Oprah wants to buy them new school books and they'd probably just think of the funniest way to vandalize them."
You can be surprised of how many children do not give a ***** to have new books. Did you know that they have to share their books because they do not have enough volume for everyone?
Here in Quebec/Canada we pay less for the school as a result that poor people can afford high school. I know many rich person who dropped school and many poor person that are now at the college using what do we call here "Prêts et bourses". It all depends on how the country handle the education system. We also have cheaper course (professional courses) that we call DEP or ASP. I studied in a poor school and I can say that if someone wants to drop poor or rich, he can have all the needed tools to get back on track. Afrika is thinking differently than the capitalist civilisation that we are. They have nothing so they all share in a some sort of communist way. I think that they are more advanced than your preconceived ideas about them tough. - spidoman, on 10/12/2007, -5/+103,500 girls applied, she accepted 150. I wonder if she told the other 3,350 girls that they couldn't come because the 150 needed a yoga studio and a beauty salon. Good Job Oprah, you're training girls who have the same problem as those American Girls you are sick of.
- sufferwell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@ scootinger
Oprah's opening a school for Boys and Girls soon
http://iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=iol1167738720224B253 - smartass007, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0the quality of education is atrocious in most middle class public schools and a complete joke in poor neighborhoods, so what's to appreciate? i had a friend who went to a school where kids were shot and stabbed in the hallways regularly and teachers took drugs and alcohol in class and didn't give a rat's ass about anything.
kids would get a much better education through google than the vast majority of american classrooms. - bobbknight, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10It's her ***** money, she can do with it as she wishes.
If you have a problem with that, stop giving her your money. - dpcamp, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2Ok, i'm a little confused here..
why is she spending 40M to educate only 152 children? why not the whole 3000 that applied? (or at least more than 152)and whats the deal with girls only? is she saying boys don't deserve her charity at all? - headswine, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Maybe if you went to her new school you'd learn how to spell.
- JustWords, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I appreciate the sentiment. It IS HER money.
BUT!!!
- Pretty lame of her to roll everyone child in America up into the assumption that the don't value an education
- Do African boys not deserve the same opportunity? Or are they already concerned only about stuff. (however, with 28 buildings, I'm going to bet that her next show will include a list of boys.
- I can't say I agree with the Yoga and Salon... could have been spent ellswhere. Maybe a tractor to help grow some food or something.
Not being critical of O personally... I think her heart is in the right place. But I think she forgot about alot of people over here.
BTW - I'm pretty certain O did her part for the victims of Katrina. She's just in a class by herself that didn't need to brag about it for publicity sake. For which I would applaud.
- canadianguy33, on 10/12/2007, -41/+142HA! Do you really think you contribute more to your country than Oprah?
- gzim, on 10/12/2007, -3/+221Her money, her right to spend it as she chooses.
- Shawnosaurus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+62That really is what it boils down to. How she spends her money is none of our business.
- lcohiomatty86, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14the thing is probably just that if she's gonna be spending 40 million.. might as well use it in a way that can help out the most people.. but it is her choice how she spends it.
- qwertydvorak, on 10/12/2007, -11/+24also sends a message to a big chunk of her audience that she thinks their kids aren't deserving.
- catalysis, on 10/12/2007, -16/+6You don't understand Oprah's audience. Now sending money to south africa is going to be the new black. Oprah fans are going to send their kids to school with bags on thier feet so they can give $10 to some school in africa that they never heard of lol.
- Woofcat, on 10/12/2007, -29/+12But spending it wisely would be nice.
"Academy for Girls in the small town of Henley-on-Klip, south of Johannesburg." - CNN
"Johannesburg is the economic and financial hub of South Africa, producing 16 % of South Africa's gross domestic product, and accounts for 40 % of Gauteng's economic activity." - Wikipedia
"Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng Province, the wealthiest province in South Africa" - Wikipedia
"Johannesburg has a well-developed higher education system of both private and public universities. Johannesburg is served by the public universities University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Johannesburg." - Wikipedia
Good job Oprah, Opening a school for poor children in one of the richest places in South America. Good work. - Crass22, on 10/12/2007, -8/+12American inner-city high school age girls are mostly Hos and Skanks, and if they want to elevate their status in life let them do it their selves. I personally see this as a great message from Oprah about our state of education, as well as the colture of our children that is reinforced by lazy-***** parents. It's a very generous and thoughtful gift, regardless of where it was built. Who cares if johansberg is the most richest place in S. AFRICA (Not America Wolfcat) But that doesnt mean all the school girls and their families are rich like here in America.
- jkenneth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21Africa isn't in South America. It's a little to the right.
- driftwood07, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4but she makes it our business to know what a great person she is for giving small portion of her salary.
- AmishRefugee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4the problem, Crass, is that these girls are being encouraged by their culture and ESPECIALLY their entertainment to be skanks and there is no one on the other side except teachers and parents, and they very often don't care about the kids they should care about. And even if they do care, a lot of kids repel from their parents intentionally for various reasons. So basically everything in many children's lives is pointing them towards bad life choices and keeping them from pursuing any form of education once they are old enough to drop out. It's really sad considering America is supposed to be the land of opportunity and so many kids are throwing that away because MTV says they should
- skyshock21, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10And as politically incorrect as it may seem, she's 100% spot-on. The USA doesn't have the same lack of education problems that Africa does. I applaud her for having the balls to tell it like it is.
- skyshock21, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3"also sends a message to a big chunk of her audience that she thinks their kids aren't deserving."
No, she's not saying they aren't deserving, she's saying they already have an education system. Apparently this place in Africa doesn't. Any reasonable person can see this for what it is. - 3Den, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Woofcat: Africa is in South America?
- pepe7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7woofcat> Pull your head out of the sand- your research skills are pathetic to say the least. Have you ever heard of Soweto? Just because Jo-burg creates a lot of South Africa's wealth doesn't mean Oprah's choice was an inappropriate place to invest and create some long term educational/economic opportunities. It would be akin to stating that poor NYC kids would be undeserving of a computer lab in their school simply because Manhattan was wealthy and Wall Street nearby...
- dziban303, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7LOL. South America.
- diggerpete, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@ Woofcat
Just because you read a wiki on Soth America (sic) hardly qualifies you to make such a broad indictment of the plight of the poor in and around Johannesburg. For your information : Joho is known to have some of the worst urban blight and highest rates of violent crime on the planet, it is also home to the sprawling shanty slums of Soweto where close to 1 million languish in poverty. - MarkCiccone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2To back that up, she said she got tired of going to inner-city schools because when she asked them what they needed they said, "an iPod" or, "sneakers".
- desistere, on 10/12/2007, -5/+52The phrasing may be poor, but humanitarian efforts should be applauded when or where ever they happen. Oprah is no less American for helping African children but she is more human. The suggestion that American or African children are "more deserving" is silly but the fact remains that good has been done for people in need.
- Aces, on 10/12/2007, -1/+28Its not silly at all. She wants her money to go where it will be appreciated and will really make a difference. She believes the money will make a greater impact in Africa, I tend to think she's probably right.
- qwertydvorak, on 10/12/2007, -14/+1@aces: i doubt it will do much. like peeing in a pool. according to this link: http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol19no2/192_pg15.htm chart part way down the page. BILLIONS annually spent in Africa, and yet we still can't get the people there to use the free rubbers we give out over there. let me say again. an extra $40 million don't mean much. now the fact that she feels the children of another country deserve her money, and not reinvesting it in the country that she built the money in. that is a different story altogether. maybe if she were to spend $40million trying to give kids a reason to care about education. that would require thought and innovation though, and i guess she just isn't up to the challenge.
- Mkizzle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@qwertydvorak
did you even read the article you linked to? what do free condoms have to do with Oprah? People here in America have a hard enough time using free condoms. One of the main points in the article is that the money "given" in aid to Africa is in the form of debt relief, not an actual transfer of funds. Anybody that has messed up with a credit card knows that most of that debt is fees and penalties, not principle. The continent has nearly a billion people in it and its going to take a lot of work and time, not everything happens over night. I don't understand why most people are so negative about generosity on digg. $40 million will do a lot more over there than it will here. That complex is probably something unheard of for that part of the world and to create opportunities for many girls that may not have had an opportunity to attend school, especially not a school complex like the one Oprah is building. And in reference to American kids, it sounds like Oprah is doing here part here too, but she doesn't have to build the schools in America. - HunterTV, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I mostly agree that it's her money and she can spend it however, but at the same time, she complains about how inner-city kids all want iPods, but didn't she give out a ton of iPods to her audience, not to mention tons of other material things? You can't promote material worship and then turn around and bitch about it when it's convenient.
- Parasocks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Oprah pays enough taxes in the USA, she's already donated enough for many, many schools. I think this is one of those 'if you don't have something nice to say' issues, because honestly if you can find time in your day to hate on someone for giving to charity, then you're really a ***** jackass who doesn't appreciate much of anything, huh?
- Parasocks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1uhm? seems like letting people give stuff away on her show has earned her enough money to be giving FORTY MILLION DOLLARS away in exchange for a good feeling... I'm not seeing your logic. Should we all stop selling things?
- SteveisSuperMan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@desistere
That's true, everyone is equally deserving of care and a good education, it's just odd to me that Oprah spent all this money, and poured on all these luxuries onto this complex to benefit just 152 girls. It's very wonderful what she is doing for those 152, but what about the other thousands, and what about the boys? It's her money, whether she wants to help out millions or just one person is up to her, but sometimes I get... I dunno, peeved at how charity money goes to waste in some situations.
Eh, anyway, good for those 152 girls and Oprah. - qwertydvorak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@Mkissle: free condoms have to do with the fact that if they would use them, we wouldn't be dumping so much aid into aids relief. they wouldn't be having so many babies. they might be able to build a sustainable future. when you have aids and 10 kids running around, how will they eat when you die ? what hope is there for the future of those kids ?
condoms have everything to do with the problems in africa. the people are getting the free vaccinations and health care we provide with aid money, so they are not dying off as much as they would if they weren't getting the vaccines. so instead of having many kids and few reaching adulthood, they are having many that also reach adulthood. resources are finite, and we could keep dumping exponential amounts of aid over there without ever gaining traction.
as far as the link, i didnt really read it, i was just looking for a quick reference to amounts of money spent in africa. either way, $40 million will not do much in africa, CONDOMS WILL. - Mkizzle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@qwerty
That's just funny. Condoms will save Africa...i think I'll make up some t-shirts and sell them. You mean the solution to the ENTIRE continents problems was condoms all along. Man. glad you came up with that, go ahead and write your congressman...more condoms to Africa NOW!
- ericeman, on 10/12/2007, -30/+5It wasn't her place to say what she said but that it also wasn't anyone's place to judge how she spent her money... especially since she's doing something so generous in the first place.
- canadianguy33, on 10/12/2007, -2/+32What do you mean "it wasn't her place to say what she said"? Who the hell are you to say that it wasn't "her place" to speak her mind.
- BarryChuckle, on 10/12/2007, -5/+48Tom Cruise will sort her out
- solidhubris, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2*Golf clap*
I think Oprah's actions are good, but I think the rational behind it is a bit jumping on the couch. She's a billionaire and believes she's gotten there through her impeccable decision making ability (which is mostly true) and that she's infallible.
She'll jump the couch soon enough - defectDS, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1http://youtube.com/watch?v=eQcFYUBLzcw
- solidhubris, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2*Golf clap*
- clubmasta2, on 10/12/2007, -35/+8I think celebrites should have to answer for how they spend their money. Like...detailed reports and stuff.
Who cares? Oprah sucks and I guess is smart enough to realize that if she builds it in the US kids are going to ***** it up, while in South Africa their worst threat is missionary retards trying to save people. In terms of making the world a better place I'd rather have a bunch of bible thumping prudes then an aids infected nation. Think about it.- Pyrogen, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12I think that you should have to publish reports of what you do with your money, verified by a CPA at your expense, each year. Or is this a problem?
- Lumiras, on 10/12/2007, -1/+52She has the complete freedom to do whatever she wants, she also has the freedom to say whatever she wants.
Oprah made all of her money by herself. She isn't squandering tax dollars, she's spending her own private funds on things she deems important. She doesn't have a contract with the American people to make this country a better place, she's not an elected official.- RichesToRags, on 10/12/2007, -37/+1You dumbass. Its the American people that made her the wealthy person she is.
Go ahead, bite the hand that feeds you. - ht70, on 10/12/2007, -10/+9@Lumiras
You are correct. She has the complete freedom to do whatever she wants w/ her money. What is also great is that the American people, from whom she has earned most of her money, can choose to not support her in future endeavors (read - Dixie Chick syndrome).
I have no problem w/ her donating to African schools as they may very well appreciate them more. If Oprah was concerned about US inner-city blight, perhaps a better use of her money would go toward social programs that help prevent teenage pregnancy, poor public housing, etc. I think addressing other types of social issues for inner-city kids may go a way towards relieving some apathy toward education. - Otto, on 10/12/2007, -22/+15Yes, she has complete freedom. Doesn't make her any less of an annoying bitch.
- santiago1, on 10/12/2007, -13/+7 Spot on, Otto, Spot on!
- fnaqzna, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2@ht70
Damn straight. The Dixie Chicks are definitely suffering.
/sarcasm - CedEx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@ ht70
They already have programs for inner city kids, and programs for public housing. Guess what happens to them, the kids that the schools and programs were built for don't appreciate it. Lots of kids there don't want to be there and often vandalize the place. Sort of why you see metal detectors and security guards at these schools.
Public housing, if people appreciated it so much, then why the hell does public housing look like the ghetto? Just because you're poor doesn't mean you graffiti the place. How does that show appreciation? What about the many public housing units transformed into drug dens and grow-ops?
- RichesToRags, on 10/12/2007, -37/+1You dumbass. Its the American people that made her the wealthy person she is.
- republick, on 10/12/2007, -102/+9She should move to Africa and become president of the entire continent. Maybe then she could teach those africans to quit jumping around fires and worshipping spirits and start feeding there kids some of that fine beef that wanders all around the village. I laugh when I see pictures of starving children and in the background there is like 30 head of cattle painted and adorded for some ceremony.
That said, Africa needs a lot more than money, cause money cant buy brains.- mandarin, on 10/12/2007, -3/+32Are you normally this ignorant?
- dgaspard, on 10/12/2007, -22/+14You know, what you just said, it's ***** up. But I laughed.
- Paktu, on 10/12/2007, -9/+37It's good that you and I live in a more enlightened country, where 25% of the population believes Jesus will return in the next twelve months:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061231/ap_on_re_us/2007_predictions_ap_poll?feck - geometry, on 10/12/2007, -4/+25That is one of the most ignorant comments I have seen on digg, congratulations.
First, last time I checked the vast majority of Americans believed in god, they may not "jump around fires worshiping spirits" but many of this countries religious beliefs aren't so far from that when viewed from an outsider.
Second, if you eat all your livestock what will you eat next year?
I'd ask you to pull your head out of your ass, but watching you walk around like that is actually really funny. - republick, on 10/12/2007, -16/+2I love it. You guys make it all worth it.
- juggernak, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3@republick
obviously you have little or no idea at all of the culture of other countries. such an ignorant comment. situation in africa is no laughing matter. - uberneoconcert, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2lol! tough to argue but inappropriate.
- Easty, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7I wonder if Jazzercising is part of the curriculum.
- stankyg, on 10/12/2007, -10/+3OMF*kingGOD! that was really funny
- dgaspard, on 10/12/2007, -4/+51I wish people would start contributing to more middle class white males with jobs. Man, that would that help me out.
- republick, on 10/12/2007, -30/+5Me too, i want some of Oprahs cheese, and not the kind thats probly between her fat legs.
- GoneSouth, on 10/12/2007, -23/+0You've got a house, shoes, and enough to eat right? Probably your kids are getting a decent education and can get to a doctor if they need to as well. What have you got to worry about?
- Gryffydd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Way to miss the joke GoneSouth.
- VeryBoredNow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+38I lived in 4 other countries. 3 of them in Europe. Other countries
are just more driven in school. I came to the US right in time
for 9th grade, to me it was a joke. School was a joke. I didn't learn
anything in the first 2 years of High School because I already learned
all that stuff in 6th and 7th grade in Germany.- dgaspard, on 10/12/2007, -2/+27At the same time. Everyone goes to high school in America. We're not weeded out and tested in the second grade. We don't send certain people to certain schools. Everyone has an equal opportunity until they are an adult. But we do end up watering down the curriculum because of it. I don't know which way is better.
- gsnedders, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Everyone goes to school in Germany (with the option to stay until you're 21), you aren't tested at the end of every year, yet the curriculum isn't watered down. It's called sets. You can be moved up/down at any time. No need for a test when you're 7, just get moved if you're doing very well or are struggling.
- manx203, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I agree - I've lived in other countries and travelled the word too.
I schooled in another country and people in the US are amazed when I say I graduated when I was 16, they thought I had a college education. - uberneoconcert, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3interesting they're more educated but can't create their own jobs.
- Racerboy1320, on 10/12/2007, -4/+26I'll be the first to admit my knowledge of south Africa is limited, but can someone explain to me why its not a public school, but rather a school for girls? Is there a reason that boys in south Africa don't need an education?
- kaeryn, on 10/12/2007, -6/+17Girls are treated like chattle in Africa. They are not sent to school as boys are.
Opportunities are NIL for women in Africa. That was until this school. - plusmedic, on 10/12/2007, -16/+1It's because Oprah is a closet misandrist who subscribes to the S.C.U.M. manifesto. It won't be long now before her brand of super-smart African women begin their assault and subsequent takeover of Earth. You've been warned.
- tinzy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I don't know exactly why Oprah is making a public school, but I know that in most developing countries, the women's places in society are less valued than men's. So if you build a public school, the parents will only send their sons to school while their daughters will have to stay at home and help do chores. Boys have loads more opportunities than girls. Also, building a public school means that you will have to cooperate with the government.
One thing that I reacted to while reading the article (besides the obvious bias), was that she's including "a yoga studio and beauty salon, among other luxuries" in the school. How will spoiling them prepare the girls for real life in South Africa? - FrostyFire, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7@kaeryn
Are you ***** joking? I'm from South Africa noob......first of all South Africa is a country, not a region. Africa is a continent not a country. You have no ***** clue what you're talking about. - leoedin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4FrostyFire's right.
South Africa is one of the richest of the african nations. Its unusual because of the huge rich/poor divide - some people live in townships with very little food and often no parents (The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in SA is very high), while others (predominantly the rich white upper class) live in a lifestyle similar to those in the west. Although the bad treatment of women will happen in SA, like most other developing countries, it is not as bad as some areas. My school has a link (aka we send money) to a school in South Africa, in the township of durban... (I think). Certainly there is both boys and girls at that school. The main issue with the sex divide is not the education systems fault, but the families who can only afford to send one or two children to school will send their sons rather than the daughters. While an all-girls school may force some people to send their daughters to school, I personally feel that if oprah was to spread the money over several less extravegant schools open to both boys and girls, it would reduce the number of pupils per school (in the school in SA my school has links to, there is up 100 people per class), and if oprah provided financing for families with very little, it would be much more effective in educating more people.
Anyway...thats my 2 cents... - ZeroMP, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I you had read the article you would know that she chose a school for girls because: "...girls (as a rule) have very poor spacial visualization skills, which means they are stupid and cannot become engineers or architects."
Geez RTFA. - clyde2801, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1So why not create a school that treats boys and girls equally?
- kaeryn, on 10/12/2007, -6/+17Girls are treated like chattle in Africa. They are not sent to school as boys are.
- fatkiduluv, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8That lady helps alot of people with her own money. You haters shadup!
- burnzy3210, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14she can spend her money as she See's fit, but if i built a school and said i only want white kids in it because black kids don't appreciate a free education i would be seen as racist
- Elranzer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8It's called a private school. You could do whatever you want. The Catholics have been doing this for years.
- ericsnels, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1no where in the article does it say that the school is only 'blacks'
- clyde2801, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Of course, that's why they're being sued, for doing what they want with children...
- RealHyperX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+19Oprah is right to do this, plus its her money anyway. Maybe talking tough and pointing out obvious issues is the way to fix inner city schools. Her and Cosby are doing more good for the black community than any other black leaders.
- tisfl37, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10She and Bill Cosby have the right idea. Wake up Black America, the time to take control of our own destiny's has been here for over 20 years... How many of us are taking advantage of the opportunity??
- scubajim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3It is her money she can do what she wants. While I don't agree with everything that Oprah does in this case I think she is right. We spend a huge amount of money in public schools and spending more money is unlikely to get us much more benefit. In Africa it is more likely that they will get proportionally more benefit out of the money than here. Here we need massive reform before we infuse more money into the public school system.
- Zanneth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I sort of agree with her. As a high school student, there's no way that free education is appreciated as much as it should be by most of these students.
- earthtoandy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9shes redistributing wealth on a global scale, good.
you know when robin hood was doing his thing he didnt catch this much flak.- angelp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Robin Hood wasn't a black woman.
- geekee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"you know when robin hood was doing his thing he didnt catch this much flak."
Robin Hood was a thief. He's the one that should be vilified. - sufferwell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Robin Hood was a thief. He's the one that should be vilified."
No, he was a terrorist thief
/sarc
- jav1231, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9This is exactly why I advocate cutting education spending. We've raised spending on education every year for 40 years and have gotten nothing to show for it. One reason is because we've turned our focus from fundamentals to cultural teachings. Cut spending, put the bulk of the money into curriculum (ie teachers!) and get back to teaching the tools kids need. I can remember nearly twenty years ago in Kansas City a study was done on the cost of sending the average kid through high school. It was determined that you could have sent the same child to an ivy league university and paid for daily limo service to and from for what it cost to graduate him from high school.
- InsaneGeek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The average tax cost per student here is ~$11-12k / year. I often wondered why teachers get paid so little, when a small classroom with 20 students has >$200k pumped into it. Then I looked at the newspaper and see a brand spanking new building being built, because the other one is a little bit old (it is compliant with disability, safety, etc so it isn't really that pressing of a need) and realized that the school system is simply run poorly. They have cash running out of their ears, but their priorities are so out of whack that they put the money into a shiny new building that they say will give a better "atmosphere" for learning rather than into actually educating the students (hiring better teachers, more training for existing teachers, creating smaller class sizes, getting better course materials, etc).
- justthisguyyano, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Our schools aren't "public" schools, they are "Government" schools. Nothing run by the government will ever be efficient at its stated purpose. The inefficiency is built in by the adversarial political nature of the American system. You don't get votes and bond money by telling some mom or dad that Johnny just isn't smart enough to be a doctor. In addition, the unions won't allow school boards to fire incompetent teachers nor reward excellence.
Check out this link for some historical information about the formation of today's government schools: http://johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/index.htm
- jfreeman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21Sounds like Oprah is joining the ranks of disappointed older black people like Bill Cosby and Whoopi Goldberg who lived through the "civil rights movement" and are seeing their efforts wasted (not wholly, but mostly) on the next generation of black Americans.
- lazyguy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16but but they can rap!
- tisfl37, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2@ jfreeman
Absolutely true. When will we black Americans wake up and take hold of our own destiny??
- republick, on 10/12/2007, -10/+5Rubbers is what they need. Billions of them.
- LoungeActx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Very off topic, but sadly what you are saying is true. However, education will hopefully alleviate the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Because understanding what you are dealing with is just as key in prevention.
- clyde2801, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That is so wrong! I am indignantly rolling on the floor and clutching my sides!
- quazyjazz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I agree that she has complete freedom to do what she wants. She has also done very generous things in the past as far as charity is concerned. With that being said, I question whether I would be spending 140 million on 152 people when the need in South Africa and other parts of the world are so great. They way the article put it, it sounds like she is giving a few kids a really awesome opportunity to spite the lack of desire from the inner-city kid. Perhaps it's just the way the article was written.
- radarx, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2I agree that she can spend her money on whatever she wants, but I'm seeing a disturbing trend of going outside of the USA. If someone in Russia wanted to adopt a US born girl, the ***** would hit the fan, and people would be outraged, but Harpo can build a school in Africa and Angelina Jolie and Madonna can adopt toy children an not only not catch ***** for it, they are applauded for "giving so much back". Taking two children out of Cambodia and Africa and making them stinking rich is not helping anyone other than the spoiled brats that hit the lottery. If people like Oprah really cared, they could augment the school building budgets for the 100 worst schools in the USA and give each of them $400,000 to build a new building, buy science equipment, or whatever. Don' t think for a second that these selfish people care about anyone else, it is only to keep there name on top of the "People we shouldn't give two ***** about but do so we can live vicariously through them." list. How about we fix our problems first, and then take care of the rest of the countries? If I was worth a Dr. Evil inspiring One Billion Dollars like Oprah, I would guarantee you I would die broke. My children would each have a few million, sure, but the majority of that money would be spend on domestic issues I felt were important. Call me crazy, but I like my country and have faith that we can fix it.
- Mkizzle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2that's the problem, we think we can throw money at schools and magically they will be fixed. We can build a new building and the schools will be fixed. Here's what gets you to college 4years of math 4 years of science and SOME social studies. I'm amazed at some of my friends less than 10 years ago could go to a public school and graduate with 2years of basic math and science. Its not the facts but the reasoning you gain from taking progressively harder classes that gets you somewhere.
- ChromaticDragon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1radarx stated:
If someone in Russia wanted to adopt a US born girl, the ***** would hit the fan, and people would be outraged...
If the Madonna adoption story did anything for me, it strongly dispelled misconceptions that the general public had matured a bit with regards to appreciation and understanding of adoption related issues.
The United States IS an Inter-Country adoption exporter. There is no reason someone in Russia couldn't adopt a US born girl. I wouldn't be altogether surprised that is has happened. I'm also certain few would be "outraged". They haven't been so far. The more prevalent case, however, is Canadian citizens adopting US born children:
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=547647&page=1
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/family/adoptions310
Check out that these reports include a statement from a Chicago agency claiming to have placed 700 children within Europe over recent years. This probably refers to Western Europe. But it certainly could include Russia. For a variety of reasons, in the US we have more supply than demand for certain children, namely black children.
If we wish to "fix things here at home first", then part of this would be, as the entire US society, to adopt more of these black children into US families (black or white). Similarly, it might theoretically be better if China and India absorb their own children. This is starting to pick up, in India anyway, as social stigmas surrounding adoption diminish a bit.
But for the children involved, in the immediate-term, it is far better to help place them in loving families, be they in Canada, Europe or elsewhere than to take a tribal mentality that there is something immoral if one of "ours" ends up "over there". There are serious trans-racial issues on top of the already complicated issues related to adoption. But every day a child spends in an institution is another day they suffer developmentally in many ways.
And since we are talking about American black children here, this is actually not that far off topic...
- evilunleashed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Agreed that it is her money, blah blah blah, however, with all the attention she's been bringing to the decline of the USA's education system, even dedicating full episodes of her show to the issue, it's just a little confusing. It makes me wonder if it really is the education of the children in any country that concerns her, or just her own publicity. But at least she's doing something.
- Tsarevich, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4African girls may need it more than American girls, but why do African girls need it more than African boys?
- scubajim, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10It has been shown that if you educate women that the families they have:
1. Healthier children
2. More educated children
3. Fewer children
4. Their children have fewer children.
If you educate a boy it isn't reflected in society that way. - Crass22, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Most african cultures are very chauvinistic. Perhaps if we could better educate them to be family-men and faithful fathers to their children, then Perhaps their education would reflect better on the family. I mean if Pops is smart, gets a great job making money, he can easily supprt his educated wife that has free time to educate their children abd better their local society. But seeign as Oprah is a woman, and most of her viewers are women, they are gonna make women-only schools.
- tisfl37, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world...
- SteveisSuperMan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@ scubajim
It is true that the education of women has those effects, but it's not like men's education is doesn't help out as much. Depending on how the education is brought out, men's education can bring all those effects as well. It somewhat depends on the cultural practices that are reflected in that education. Like what Crass22 said, the men in that country, and in many parts of the world should be taught to value their families more. I think morals and values are as equally important to teach as any other subject.
- scubajim, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10It has been shown that if you educate women that the families they have:
- rlh1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Money to Africa to educate children that want an education.
Sounds good to me.
There is a tremendous amount of money that goes to the schools in the US now.
If they can't be taught with the billions of dollars that is being spent now, Oprah's pennies won't make a difference.
The reasons American kids don't want to learn runs a lot deeper then what money is ever going to fix.- diddy1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Amen to that. Besides I believe when she says kids in the US wouldn't appreciate it. They already complain about the free education from public schools. What about SA kids that probably are very lucky to EVEN go to school especially girls.
- weseire, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Oprah has done a lot of good things for America charity wise. So she has decided to spread the wealth a little bit. Its her money after all.
Anyway its a sorry state of affairs when schools in the RICHEST country in the world needs help like this. Shouldn't the government make sure the schools are up to par?!?- PhillyMJS, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4"Shouldn't the government make sure the schools are up to par?!?"
They're trying-- unfortunately what they seem to consider "up to par" includes teaching sexual abstinence and fairy tales like creationism, and squelching independent thought wherever it rears its ugly head. Oh, and dumbing down the curriculum until the bar is low enough for everyone to pass. - clyde2801, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yes, the government is insuring that every school is teaching classes geared toward arbitrary tests.
- PhillyMJS, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4"Shouldn't the government make sure the schools are up to par?!?"
- HP844182, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I'm all for helping other people out but you have to help yourself before you can extend that help to others.
We have many problems here in the US and I believe we should concentrate on those before we act like world police. We're too busy "helping" other people and our problems go unnoticed/ignored and it hurts everyone in the long run.- angelp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Obviously, you're not aware of this....but Oprah isn't the government, she's a private citzen who donates her money to many in and out of the U.S..
- redbonefish, on 10/12/2007, -18/+1What an Oreo
- Talisian, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6 It's that kind of ignorant attitude that sums up the problems in our schools- if you try to succeed you're trying to be white.
- irvin666, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1What the hell?! lmao
dude, it's the standard american culture, not white.
- jdavid, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3has anyone else seen the japanese satirical movie "battle royal"?
where Takeshi is suposed to make the japanese children strong again through high school war game to the death on an island where only the winner gets to go home and tell of his or her success, so that others may work hard in school and fear being sent on to a battle royal.- csicks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Huh?
- pabloD, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Battle Royale FTW!
- LoungeActx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I've seen the movie but I don't understand the rest of your comment.
- ASSASSYN, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2She is right.
- TRUEPATRIOT, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11bill Cosby and Oprah deserve awards for speaking the thruth
- maiku00, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1JELLO!
- csicks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Good for her. Here in DC, we spend more money per student than almost any other jurisdiction, and have the 49th worst school district in the nation.
The problem with American schools isn't money, no matter what the politicians say. Oprah is doing the right thing. - colonicshake, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Blogger1947
stop watching the leave it to beaver reruns...all rappers..athletes thugs? what motivation does a high school have for pushing a rapper thru school into..college? While some rap is outrageous the bottom line is the responsibility of raising a child falls on the parents...period. In America there are 1000's of things you can blame failure on, but the last thing people tend to blame are themselves. And as far as athletes, whose pockets are really getting bigger over that? The school, then colleges, and the owner of a professional team. Stop speaking out of your old ass and do some research. Maybe you should watch The Wire and see who really profits from things. Usually, the guy on the surface has the least to do with the root of the problem. - gquaglia, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Maybe Oprah should try and address the problem there instead of picking up and going elsewhere. Gangster rap would be a good start. Music that glorifies violence, demeans women and thumbs its nose at authority. Emulating these clowns is not going to get you out of the hood and into a successful career. Also some of the black leaders are the problem as well. These types find it easier to fan the flames of racism and blame the white man for all the troubles in the black community instead of taking responsibility for themselves.
- Talisian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4 She has but look what happens:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/97812/oprah_winfrey_blasted_by_50_cent.html - DarkDakota, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2the first sentence was right. but then you continued and displayed your own ignorance. oh, and racism as well.
- tisfl37, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@Talisian
Good catch Talisian, at least someone out here is ready to research something before firing off a comment! - Mkizzle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3i just love how everyone knows whats wrong with the "black community" and speak of it as one group that encompasses ALL black people in America. That's a double standard, school shootings and workplace murder sprees don't speak for the entire "white community" do they? What about serial killers? Not a whole lot of black serial killers right (I think there has been one in America and that shocked everyone)? The problem with the white community is they glorify the selfish impatient attitude put forth by the O'Rileys of the world. They somehow have become the victims. Its funny how close the cries of the KKK are to those of these middle class white guys who claim that can't get a job cause some minority took it, or how the government is giving all my tax money away to minorities. As long as you believe that every time you didn't get a job is because a minority got you are one step closer to "the white man needs to take back this country!" The politicians are crushing the middle class, not aid for poor folks.
Just to let everyone know, black people aren't the biggest purchasers of rap music and aren't the ones glorifying that lifestyle. That's done to sell records and as long as is the little white kids running out and buying the latest 50cent or Akon or whoever album, they are the ones glorifying that lifestyle, the artists are just putting on a show so they can feed their 23 kids.
- Talisian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4 She has but look what happens:
- Talisian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4 Good for her that she's not afraid to say something that we all know but isn't PC. The education for minorities in the US has huge problems and one of the biggest effecting it is that fact that you're perceived by your racial peers as trying to be white if you try to succeed in school- so failure is encouraged so you can belong to a social group or gang. These kids are desperate for social structure since they're lacking it at home. Meanwhile, a generation of kids is idolizing gangster rappers who make money off the further destruction of their own community values. Then we end up with an epidemic of teenage pregnancy drop-outs and single mothers on the welfare system because the young fathers are in prison- these ill-equipped parents then raise the next generation and the vicious cycle continues.
It's a deep rooted problem and a free school isn't going to fix it here. - pixeldust, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I know it's already been said but how in the ***** does a school that costs $40 million only hold 152 kids? I couldn't care less where she makes it but why make it so exclusive? In the end it's her money and she can do whatever she wants with it though.
- plusmedic, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1It's called laundering money. Sheesh
- audiophilia, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0That women can find opportunity ANYWHERE!
She's nearly as bad as that old tosser, Kathy Lee...
Ugh! - tralalaa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I think it's funny why everyone else is so concerned with what someone decides to do with their own money.
Mind your own business, *****.
If you feel wronged by her supporting Africa instead of the US, then donate your own money to inner city schools.
Otherwise, STFU.
Personally, if I had billions, I'd go around offering bail to murderers being held in jail. I'm sure that'd piss a lot of people off... but hey, it's my money. - markusagrippa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Why should most American girls care about education? All their media-driven heroes (posterchild: Paris Hilton) don't. American girls are bombarded with the message of education doesn't matter - just be super skinny, extremely rich, and entirely vapid.
- btgoss, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I wish she would have spent that money here in America helping to remove the words "baby-momma" from our lexicon... that would have been money well spent...and while there has been no outside proof of her comments, I find it interesting that she would be willing to "write-off" so many people in America as being ungrateful and therefore not deserving help...
- johnpaul191, on 10/12/2007, -0/+61) it's her money
2) her money is going to go a lot farther in South Africa than it is here
3) she contributes a lot to the US education system in the form of taxes. what she personally pays, as well as her companies, and people employed by her companies.
i really don't have an opinion about Oprah one way or the other, but i feel like my above comments could be applied to any person in her position. (maybe even Bill Gates?)- DAVIBE, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0whats her montherland?
- blackjack75, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That would be the Unonted States of Onmerica?
- amightywind, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1We've all known that Oprah and her leftist Hollywood buddies were disloyal Americans, even to her own race. The problem with public schools is inequity of funding. Poor inner city kids *must* attend inferior, poorly funded schools. Rich folks in the burbs get away with lavishing funding on their schools. Give the poor kids vouchers to attend better schools or get local funding out of the public school systems. Inequity of opportunity is un-American.
- johnpaul191, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5yeah and writing a check to the school system is going to make a dent in anything. the whole system needs an overhaul. you can't blame her for the chaos that is the school system. i would think you could blame the government and their post-WW2 policies of funding for housing only outside the cities. that is what started the decline of the cities (and tax revenue) that is just really turning around somewhat recently.
i can't believe she is a "disloyal american" because she didn't spend her money how you want her to. - pabloD, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8"disloyal American"? "Un-American"?
I'm so tired of this 'un-american' *****. Go back to the 1950's and cower behind McCarthy's skirts, you small minded, ignorant, reactionary prick.
- johnpaul191, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5yeah and writing a check to the school system is going to make a dent in anything. the whole system needs an overhaul. you can't blame her for the chaos that is the school system. i would think you could blame the government and their post-WW2 policies of funding for housing only outside the cities. that is what started the decline of the cities (and tax revenue) that is just really turning around somewhat recently.
- ChileanGoD, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2The problem is that one of the reasons of that kind of mentality is due to the lack of education. If giving less education is the answer to the lack of interest in education then it becomes a vicious circle.
- Soldan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2well good for her...
however if it were my money to spend I would consider early childhood education first.. its better to get kids ready to learn than have alot of kids in remediation for thier entire school career...younger children also like going to school.
another option is just to give the cash to the Gates Foundation. They seemed to know what they are doing and support alot of education projects - Jammer, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0Nice. Oprah should have tried to work on making things better, rather than throw everyone in this country under the bus and go build a school in another country. I hope this finally starts people down the road of discovering what this self-entitled c*nt is really all about: just another arrogant entertainment-type with lots of money and and little or no sense.
- BigCalhoun, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Personally, I think it's all publicity. Africa is THE buzz word right now. She wouldn't generate nearly as much publicity if she opened a school in Camden, NJ or Mobile, AL. Even if it's bad publicity, it still means her name is in peoples mouths and she is relevant (in her mind, at least).
As far as inner-city kids not caring about their education...her and I need to have a little confab. While growing up in the ghetto (inner city, pfft.), I realized that me caring about my education was the only way I was going to go from where I was at to where I am today. So she is talking out of her ass. - djjuice, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I agree, she is totally correct, I remember in High School how many people didnt seem to care at all.
But of course people will think she is out of line and all this other nonsense. Thanks to this "Politcal Correct" fad were more messed up than ever.
Kids don't care about school, America is fat, too many problems we cover up with this junk. Glad to see more people telling it how it is. - Brandondork, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Wow I fully agree with her
- guerrilla_suit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Good for her, and good for those students. At least this country has something tangible to show as a global effort, other than war.
Oprah pulled herself out of a life of poverty, and now wants to show other people how to do it. Through education and hard work. The US provides schools for all children, citizens or not. We provide inexpensive college and job training. There is no reason why someone shouldn't be able to excel in the US. That can't be said for young women in other countries like South Africa.
The formula is pretty easy for American children. Don't do drugs, don't commit a crime, graduate High School, don't get pregnant, and apply for college, even community college, right after you graduate. You will at some point become an employable, and educated person. -
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