Oprah Winfrey: kids in U.S. don't appreciate value of free education

mtlebay · January 1st, 2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Oprah Winfrey is firing back at critics of her decision to build a $40 million school complex in South Africa - saying she didn't build it in the U.S. because inner-city kids here don't appreciate the value of a free education.
"I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn't there," the TV talk-show maven says in the current issue of Newsweek.

"If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don't ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school."

The tough talk comes as the famously philanthropic Winfrey unveils her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa - a sprawling, 28-building complex for impoverished teens that features a yoga studio and beauty salon, among other luxuries.

The 22-acre complex has taken more than five years to build and has raised eyebrows in the U.S. and abroad, she said.

"I understand that many ...feel that I'm going overboard, and that's fine," Winfrey said. "This is what I want to do. I wanted to take girls with that 'it' quality and give them an opportunity to make a difference in the world."

Winfrey handpicked the 152 girls who will attend out of an application pool of more than 3,500. Winfrey has also supplied millions of dollars to educate needy children in the U.S. through the Oprah Winfrey Scholars program

Someone pass me the popcorn.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/goss...p-408116c.html

darksithbunny · January 1st, 2007, 01:39 PM

Um, excuse me, O, but it isn't free. Taxes. I pay them. Some public schools now have tuition fees and lab fees and material fees, etc. So please don't say it is free. No such thing.

MgMMD · January 1st, 2007, 01:41 PM

Come to a college Oprah.
There are a lot of people who don't get anything free.
:puke
Oh and " Inner City" people aren't the only people who made need assistance.
How about going to poor small towns where one factory closes and everyone is laid off?

How about that?

o0Amber0o · January 1st, 2007, 01:43 PM

Yea we know.
American's are ungreatful, selfish, uneducated, bastards.

WE KNOW.

Go back to Africa and feed the starving children Oprah, there obviously isn't any here that need your help.

VanillaRice · January 1st, 2007, 01:46 PM

My school is the least funded in the state of NC...We def have school fees.

lovehurtsrealbad · January 1st, 2007, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o0Amber0o

Yea we know.
American's are ungreatful, selfish, uneducated, bastards.

WE KNOW.

Go back to Africa and feed the starving children Oprah, there obviously isn't any here that need your help.

Woo!! We suck!!
But, to be frank, I'd love for her to fund my schools.

But, on the other hand, I'm American and I suck.
LHRB

mshovito · January 1st, 2007, 02:07 PM

why are you all fronting and acting like Education was on your mind this morning? If Oprah came to your school and asked you what you felt you needed you'd be talking about clothes and iPod's and shoes.. ADMIT IT!!!

On a side note, she's still doing a lot for America. America's also the richest country with the most millionaire's.. wtf are those rich bastards doing for your education? Lindsay can't even spell. Home schooling *shakes head* African's don't complain when she spends her money here.. (Katrina, Angel Network ) she gives millions and her shows always inspire people to share what little they have. Instead of complaining about it, you should be happy she's spreading the wealth.. remember, she has no kids!

I'm proud of her, she's doing very well. Oprah isn't going to save Africa or America she's only one person and even if she does this and nothing else for the rest of her life it's more than most people will do in their lifetime even relatively speaking.

The school sounds fabu.. can't wait for pics!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovehurtsrealbad

Woo!! We suck!!
But, to be frank, I'd love for her to fund my schools.

But, on the other hand, I'm American and I suck.
LHRB

Fund your own schools.. first, in fact, REGISTER for school.. most americans are proud drop outs.

@ previous comment on inner-city. I agree with you.. poverty is poverty.. so you should accept that in africa there's poverty too!

darksithbunny · January 1st, 2007, 03:24 PM

I know I am in the majority of people who wish Oprah would just keep her wonderful charity giving to herself and stop trying to shame people in her own country just because we don't have the resources of the enormous wealthy and time that she has. Proud of it, fine. Great. Happy for her. But STFU bragging about it and next time, maybe ASK the question in a way that kids will understand exactly the answer she wants to hear.

VanillaRice · January 1st, 2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshovito

why are you all fronting and acting like Education was on your mind this morning? If Oprah came to your school and asked you what you felt you needed you'd be talking about clothes and iPod's and shoes.. ADMIT IT!!!

ha! I knwo I would. I might ask her to throw in a new car too.

darksithbunny · January 1st, 2007, 03:30 PM

And I actually DID have education on my mind this morning. Wondering if our schools were going to be closed since it is a day of national mourning for President Ford. AND to not only fill out my Federal Forms for College but forms for my kids for money due for NEXT the next school year! Amazing! I didn't have a hangover!

teforde23 · January 1st, 2007, 03:32 PM

I kinda agree with Oprah. I grew up in an inner city Brooklyn neighborhood and went to a so called gifted school and we had a graduation rate of about 60%. A lot of kids just didn't care even though they were getting an almost free ride on everything. All anyone cared about were sneakers and designer jeans or who could hook up with what guy or girl. Even now when I ride the subway I can honestly say that I have never once heard a teenager discuss a book or even what they learned in school. And that is the honest to goodness truth. Every kid has a cellphone and expensive ipods. When I was young the police would question you if they spotted you walking the streets during school hours. I agree with you mshovito, if Oprah had come to me at that age and asked me what I wanted I would say an ipod too. I never really appreciated education until I graduated high school and saw how some of my friends struggled to get their GED.
Can I just add that one of the reasons that kids don't repect getting an education is that they were taught from an early age that the gov't would always be there to take care of them. When I worked as a recruiter I can't tell you how many 18 and 19 year olds came in looking for a job. And they would always tell me that they can only work part time because that way thy could still collect public assistance. And these were women with 2 or 3 kids. And I can assure you that their parents (usually mom) tell them at an early age how to fill out the public assistance paperwork and how to get around the system. So why should school matter.

Sorry about the long rant.

o0Amber0o · January 1st, 2007, 03:33 PM

Actually, I have my education on my mind everyday and if Oprah ever came up to me and asked me what I need for school an iPod would be the last thing I'd ask for. I'd have her paying off my $25000 worth of student loans.

SVZ · January 1st, 2007, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o0Amber0o

Actually, I have my education on my mind everyday and if Oprah ever came up to me and asked me what I need for school an iPod would be the last thing I'd ask for. I'd have her paying off my $25000 worth of student loans.

I'm guessing you went to post-secondary, which isn't what she's talking about

AliceInWonderland · January 1st, 2007, 03:54 PM

well she's right, partially. I always say that education is the key to success not getting pregnant in high school or working for fedex instead of going to college...kids are stupid, but i dont think their parents are teaching them properly either. I see it far too much in l.a. its pathetic.

western · January 1st, 2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teforde23

Can I just add that one of the reasons that kids don't repect getting an education is that they were taught from an early age that the gov't would always be there to take care of them.

ITA. It's not just in the US that education is taken for granted though. Pretty much any country where every child is expected to be given an education for "free" you'll find a child who would rather get an IPOD than a new school uniform. I would've been one of them

Why shouldn't she spend HER money the way she feels it will do the most good?