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Libralind2 Veteran Poster Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 706 Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 10:46 am: |
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Rumblings of discontent at Oprah school By Lumka Oliphant Just two months after its much-heralded opening, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls closed ranks this week after one of the girls was sent home "due to illness". What started as a routine inquiry by the Saturday Star turned out to be a case cloaked in mystery at the plush school at Henley-on-Klip in Meyerton. No one at the school was prepared to give any details about the girl or her illness, and the Gauteng Education Department refused to comment because it is an independent school. School chairperson John Samuel said a girl was sent home due to an illness but would not elaborate. "We want to be respectful to the parents and to the girl by not divulging what was wrong with her." When asked about the promises Winfrey had made of looking after all the needs of the girls, including their health, Samuel said: "The doctors at the school tried to help her but, on their advice, it was decided that she should go home." Lisa Halliday, communications director of the US Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation said its policy was not to release personal information or details of health issues, as the academy's main concern was to "protect the privacy and dignity" of its learners. Questions over the "culture" of the new school have also been raised. 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". "I think Oprah needs to understand that, as black people, extended family is very important. When there is a death in the family, our children attend. Family to us is not only brother, sister, mother and father - it is the entire clan," explained the grandmother. Another parent complained she was allowed to speak to her daughter only once a week and see her only once a month. "You can live in the most beautiful and luxurious place, but home is home, and your family are your family," said the mother. This article was originally published on page 3 of The Star on March 03, 2007
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Mzuri "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 3781 Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 10:59 am: |
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Oprah was nice enough to build them a multi-million dollar school and all they do is complain about how she won't let them observe their African traditions. What a bunch of ingrates! |
Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm
Post Number: 8644 Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 11:10 am: |
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LiLi, It's only natural there would be some early, impromptu attrition at Oprah's school. Sometimes you don't really know what you're getting into...UNTIL you get into it. And some foks simply will not be able to or even want to abide the schools criteria. When that happens, they should part ways without any blame, castigation or retribution to anyone, especially Oprah. Here's hoping they're able to quickly fill her slot with someone who's a better fit for the school. |
Libralind2 Veteran Poster Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 708 Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 11:32 am: |
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You addressed the post to me..why..?? Im just posting something I found. I ran a program for 5 years that also was free but CLEARLY not close to what Oprah is doing and we had attrition. I understand the problem. So..I agree..with ya mah brother LiLi |
Chrishayden AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3834 Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 12:01 pm: |
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Oprah was nice enough to build them a multi-million dollar school and all they do is complain about how she won't let them observe their African traditions. What a bunch of ingrates! (The Chinese build a school here. You get into it. They start trying to make you act like a Chinese. You don't get upset about it? That ain't America. That's Africa. She needs to respect their traditions. If those girls had been WHITE she'd have been falling all over herself to make sure that they got whatever they want. Oprah is a typical fathead American too full of herself to see that the way she got over (hugging nuerotic white women) will not be useful to everybody. |
Mzuri "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 3784 Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 12:18 pm: |
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I see that your sarcasmeter isn't working today, huh Chris. |
Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique
Post Number: 7630 Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 12:24 pm: |
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Oprah is running a convent where she is the Mother Superior in absentia. Act good and you are rewarded. Act naughty and you are sent to bed without dinner. If you suffer from hunger pains then you're sent home sick. The pathway to hell is paved with good intentions. |
Chrishayden AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3839 Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 02:30 pm: |
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Oprah is running a convent where she is the Mother Superior in absentia. Act good and you are rewarded. Act naughty and you are sent to bed without dinner. If you suffer from hunger pains then you're sent home sick. The pathway to hell is paved with good intentions. (Dammit Cynique! You need a show like Stephen Colbert's where you do the job on the Big O! |
Mzuri "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 3791 Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 02:43 pm: |
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Lil_ze Veteran Poster Username: Lil_ze
Post Number: 867 Registered: 01-2006
Rating: Votes: 2 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 12:04 am: |
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first of all, i would not have given these africans a DAM thing. negroes in america are struggling in schools, and she is opening schools for a bunch of african girls. great! yeah, i know its her money. second of all, when you have a man-hating DYKE (imo) like oprah winfrey, opening a school ONLY for girls, problems are bound to arise. i guess the BOYS of south africa, can get a good look at this "school" (training camp for future man-hating dykes), when they are on their way to the garbage dump to search for food, and inhale paint fumes. oprah winfrey, an extremely giving DYKE (imo). |
Yukio Veteran Poster Username: Yukio
Post Number: 1968 Registered: 01-2004
Rating: Votes: 1 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 12:19 am: |
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did anyone read that the story was published by the Star? i'm not an oprah supporter, but...the Star? |
Ntfs_encryption "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 1970 Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 01:42 am: |
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"first of all, i would not have given these africans a DAM thing. negroes in america are struggling in schools, and she is opening schools for a bunch...... .......dump to search for food, and inhale paint fumes. oprah winfrey, an extremely giving DYKE (imo). Well Z, no one can never accuse you of not speaking your mind, that's for damn sure. LMAO!!! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
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Chrishayden AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3848 Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 04:51 pm: |
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I heard Oprah was on a recent show feeling a bunch of women's breasts. Anybody see it? |
Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm
Post Number: 8666 Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 05:05 pm: |
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Chris, Was Gayle jealous? *snicker* |
Ntfs_encryption "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 1988 Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 - 07:37 pm: |
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"I heard Oprah was on a recent show feeling a bunch of women's breasts." Nothing wrong with that. I'd do it too! Ha! Ha! Ha!
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