Why Oprah's School Isn't In Chicago

Wondering why Oprah didn't decide to build her new school here in the US rather than in South Africa?  Me, too.

"''If you ask the kids what they want or need [in the US], they will say an iPod or some sneakers,' she's quoted as saying (Oprah built $40 million school). 'In South Africa, they don't ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school.'"

Comments

there's a lot of need in Africa
why attack her?
if she spent all of her money aiding the development
of children in Africa I would applaud her

If the quote from Oprah is accurate it's hypocritical given her role in fostering American culture's focus on material acquisition, consumption and celebrity.

I think the truth is that the problems of urban education in the US are too complicated for her to solve with massive amounts of money alone. To make a real difference, she would have to advocate a true integration of our schools, economically and racially, something that would never play with her middle-class suburban audience.

Didn't she do a piece on the differences between a Chicago and Naperville school? I think she knows what needs to happen, and does advocate it, but realizes it is a huge problem that requires more than just celebrity or money. In Africa, she will undoubtedly get more bang for her bucks. I applaud her work, and wish she were running for Mayor (or else support Dorothy Brown). As far as "fostering American culture's focus on material acquisition, consumption and celebrity", that 11:33 stated, I think it is impossible NOT to and be a successful entertainer, unless you only tour the Buddhist temple circuit... If you want to knock a celebrity, there are PLENTY others who deserve it.

Furthermore, I think what she said in the quote was accurate. I worked at a very poor school last year, and kids were more concerned with material goods than grades. Bill Cosby is being criticized for pointing this out.

I would be disappointed if Oprah actually said that but I do respect how she chooses to spend her money. Putting money into the CPS bureaucracat wasteland would, unfortunately, be ineffective. Now as mayor...she would have my vote.

I think Oprah has done a lot of good. I haven't watched her in about a year but I truly hated the shows she did on celebs and fashion. She turned into a different person when she did those. She feels a deep connection with Africa so let her spend her money where she wants to.

To give Oprah her local due, she was the graduation speaker at Young Women's Leadership Charter School's first graduation. I believe she also donated a pretty big chunk of change to them but I don't recall the exact amount. Yes, it's a charter, but it was the the combination of all-girls and public that drew her.

Oprah Winfrey has the right to spend her money as she chooses. It would be wonderful to have a school of this magnitude in Chicago; however, I think that she built it where she saw the most need, and where she thought that it would have the greatest impact. Furthermore, she is providing a population who have not had the many benefits that we have experienced as Americans. I applaud her efforts, and hope that she continues to spread her compassion and love for humanity throughout the world. Speading a bit in Chicago would be an added bonus!

Other celebrities should follow suit, and provide opportunities both domestically and internationally.

[(irr)pie(rational)]

Let’s not forget that CPS HAS done a terrific job at building new schools (on average, $40 million plus), building new additions, and renovating old ones. Sure Chicago could have used the new school. But Africa was in more of a need at this time. (Stop hating)

How is it that you spend $40 million dollars as a purely humanitarian deed and receive a health dose of criticism from folks in general, and particularly folks who rarely if ever will donate even $40.00 to any cause?

Maybe Oprah’s comments were not the most accepting to or appreciated by all. But the last time I checked, her money is where her mouth is, period.

I ask that all of you who disagree with Oprah, march right down to 125 South Clark with your check book, debit, or credit card and pledge any amount for our schools. What you will experience is a sense of pride in yourself for doing a good deed.

Share your experience with a family member, friend, or foe. Capture your reaction on tape as one of these individuals suggests that your actions were misguided. Please Post.

[1.04]

Oprah

Who cares?

1:04, I think it sets a good example.

I think "(irr)pie(rational)" has a good point. $40 million for Oprah is 4% of her entire net worth (1 billion, according to Forbes). 4% of your entire wealth is a LOT to give away for anyone. That means, if you own a home worth $250,000, you give away $10,000. I don't believe ANYONE on this site has EVER given away an equivalent amount of 4% net worth to one cause.

If you are disagreeing with what she did, YOU are the hypocrite.

i don't disagree with what she did; her business

however, how meaningful it is to give away 4% of your
income depends on your income.

[(irr)pie(rational)]

Does It?

11:44 are you one of those all talk and no cash out put?

Give me a break about this talk of it depends. Please!

And who said it had to be 4%? That comment was merely an illustration of the magnitude of Oprah’s gift.

Get off the couch and get a life, a life of giving.

(The Christmas spirit sure does not last long in America. Thank GOD for Oprah)

For most Americans Christmas is about getting. Why should America GET anymore, be it from Oprah, Bill Gates or Santa, when we've gotten so much already, and squandered even more by electing idiots to spend our taxes? The first lesson in Oprah's school should be how NOT to elect leaders like America has chosen.

no need to get hostile 12:10 am

perhaps you're unfamiliar with the rationale for the graduated income tax or
sliding fee scales

9:16 you hit it right on the head!!!

Good for Oprah. I would not give that kind of money to open a CPS school. Everyone would fight to get in, there would be all sorts of criticism and then parents would be telling you what to do or what not to do , etc. Where she gave her money, people care about education and see the difference it will give and bring to them. Who would not want to teacher students like this--who value an education and are grateful to you for your time, work, dedication and knowledge. When I retire, I want to teach at this school. We are too spoiled here and expect much for doing very little--our public schools are responsible for eveything and we lack having parents teach their children about self-responsibility. I work in a public school where students spit on teachers and swear at teachers and even spit on them.. If you get a parent up, they either beat the child in front of you or tell you that they have no control over their child or tell you that the child must have had a good reason to spit or swear! You go Oprah! I hope the students at her school want to come here and teach one day, because we will not have teachers from here who want to teach here. It is already happening--young teachers are leaving this system and experinced teachers pray that PEP will be extended in the next contract.

[1.04]

Who were you asking Oprah?

My opinion on the African school was expressed by my previous blog.This is about a quote I saw from
Oprah ., it said. “I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools. If you ask the kids what they want or need,
They will say an I-pod or sneakers….”. That is pure Bull.
I think I have taught in more inner city schools than Opera ever knew existed. She is wrong to characterize all
Kids like that. Almost every class had a quite kid who kept to themselves. They were scruffy, had bad clothes and
Usually had to stare at the blackboard. But their clothes were clean, and they came to learn .After the first test they endured the taunt’s of
“School Girl Bitch” from the rest of the morons. These quiet kids endure more in one day than most of us will
ever endure in a lifetime.
From the time they are ten it starts, they have to fight off the uncles, the cousins, their brothers and sometimes
Their fathers, not to mention Mama’s back door men. School is the only pleasure in their sad lives. If they are
Lucky enough to get a real teacher it can make all the difference. Someone who knows what is going on, perhaps they
Were there themselves. Reading becomes their salvation and homework brings order to the chaos of home.
Kids like that go turtle and withdraw into their shell most of the time. They don’t want all the trappings of
Our visual world, They just want a little peace and understanding.Traditionaly these kids migrated to
Chicago Teachers College where they became the first in their families to graduate from college.
They got out on pure guts. For every one of them I would like to tell Oprah she was way out of line

1.04

[against regressive economics]

Just a note on 10:16's math. If I make enough money to pay my basic living expenses, giving away 4% of my income is giving out of subsistence. However, if I have, say, $100 million of disposable income over and above what it costs to maintain my fleet of jets and so forth, then when I give away $40 million I am not giving away any of my subsistence income. In other words, if a por starving teacher like myself gives away a quarter to a homeless person on the street I have exceeded Oprah's total charitable giving by 100 percent in terms of my subsistence wages. So don't knock the little guys like us. The view expressed by 10:16 is usually associated with what we call regressive taxation. In that scenario, everyone pays the same percentage of their income as tax, or the same amount of flat tax, but that percent or amount means very different things to people of widely divergent incomes.

If there wasn't a tax break for Oprah or others that ive away millions of dollars, how much would they give away?

[Lamarr Wilson]

It's so easy to criticize...

If she wanted to spend $40 million to promote the cause of ant farms, that's her business. She had a dream and she fulfilled it. I'm guessing that the critics are ones who haven't had fulfillment of their dreams and therefore find it easy to criticize when someone else is doing what they desire with their life. I'm not pinpointing people in this blog; I'm speaking mainly of the mainstream media being so critical. There is so much bad news on TV daily to be critical of; can't be be joyous when there is a bit of good news?

Oprah once said there is a big difference with being a poor person in the US then in Africa. In the inner cities you are able to find housing and medical with a phone call to a counselor.
I for one know a WIC card and a Medicaid card are pretty easy to come by.
We take everything for granted
Those girls in South Africa will have a great education and life experiences.

oprah did not say the part about finding medical or housing. That came from my experience.

[dougla_1]

To: "I think I have taught in more inner city schools than Opera ever knew existed." (posted Jan 04, 1:52pm)

Great comments about the EXCEPTIONS not the norm. I wish the majority of the children in all of schools, public and private, would be more motivation by academic excellence and that should be the norm NOT the exception.

You kind of help make Oprah's point.

[JD]

Why is everyone so critical of Oprah on giving from the heart? We sit here and judge a person on what she does for other's while no one else steps up. There are to many wealthy people in this world (actors,singers pro athletes, business men and women) who are capable of giving yet they are too comsumed with their own riches that they dont do anything! Mankind as a whole is too selfish to help its fellow man in need. This will be the downfall of mankind: self-destruction and greed. The Bible fore-tells of the beginning of the end and we have all been witnessing the signs whether we know it or not. Wake up and open your eyes to the world around you.

[whatsthestory]

If you can't get inspired by Oprah's Africa (and other international) education efforts, you're stuck in CPS think! We have the power to make a difference in our schools every day. We get the world we create--and Oprah is teaching my students that they can make a difference in the world. Many of my students were shaken by seeing her students' passion for learning--in their Chicago world, the values of education are less compelling, less obvious. The "rewards" of sports or music celebrity are crystal clear. What she demonstrates is that EVEN IF your education leads to wealth and power, fulfillment comes from going far beyond in giving back. That's her gift to Chicago students!