Oprah's school 'too strict'
11/03/2007 18:39 - (SA)

Gavin Prins


Johannesburg - The rules at Oprah Winfrey's ultra-posh school at Henley-on-Klip near Johannesburg are apparently so strict they make a reformatory look like a holiday resort.

That's the word from upset parents, who say the school rules make it difficult for them to keep contact with their children.

They would have aired their concerns during a satellite link-up with the chat show queen a week ago, but that was cancelled at short notice by the school's management body.

Meanwhile the school seems to have made the rules even stricter. Until now, the girls could receive visitors every fortnight, but parents can now only visit them once a month.

Frances Mans, foster mother of Gweneth Mulder, said last week she would take her daughter out of the school if the rules were not changed.

'Surely this isn't a prison?'

Cellphones and e-mail correspondence are out of bounds during the week, and girls are only allowed to phone their parents at weekends.

The maximum number of visitors per pupil is four, and visits have to be approved by the school at least two weeks in advance.

Mans said she had to wait at the security gate for half an hour to be signed in when she went to visit her daughter last Sunday.

"It was a nightmare. We had only two hours to see my child. Surely this isn't a prison or an institution?"

The names of visitors must also match those on the security guard's list before guests are allowed in.

Parents are not allowed to smuggle junk food in to the girls past the matrons.

"Then the girls lose points," says Mans.

The girls get points for "good behaviour", which they can exchange at a school shop for clothes and caps.

No treats allowed

"The poor children are not even allowed to have any treats. Their diet is fruit, yoghurt and sandwiches. When they go on holiday for a month in April they'll be stuffing themselves with sweets and chocolates in any case."

Angela Conradie, whose daughter Michelle is at the school, says she's just as upset about the strict visiting times.

"Michelle phones me in tears sometimes, and then I don't know what to say to her," says Conradie.

John Samuels, the executive head of the school, confirmed that only one visit a month would be allowed in future.

This means that if a girl has five siblings, she will only be able to see all of them over a period of three months.

Samuels says he sees nothing wrong with the system.

"We have the security and well-being of the girls at heart, in every respect. They are our priority. If there's too much movement on the premises at the weekend, it disturbs the school spirit."

Source: South Africa News 24

Hm, how do you go from being an orphan with barely no food or whatever to expecting "treats"?

lol

South Africans never liked the plan at the onset anyways.
If it's a "prison", transfer your kids to another school. that easy


but many of the rules definitely are harsh.

The main thing I disagree with is the visitation. I mean these girls were in horrid situations and the only people they ever relied on has been their family so separating them from these people for so long isnt exactly fair

but didnt they say that after graduation, Oprah's also gonna pay for their univeristy fees?

sorry this is typical of SA's .
you just can't please some people sha. I wish Oprah built that school in Naija or kenya. rubbish, how can they have so much and still moan(if this story is true anyway)

This is a "non-story".When I was in Secondary school(FGC Enugu),visiting day was the last Saturday of every month.We certainly did not have yoghurt  and sandwiches .

Comparisons to prisons are ridiculous.The students have a choice which prisoners don't-they can get out  the school and join another school or stop going to school entirely.Its their choice.

The story sounds like a smear campaign on Oprah.Usually the journalist,finds one or two parents,out of hundreds, willing to complain while trying to convey the impression of widespread discontent.Interestingly only 2 parents actually raised questions in the story .

The story sounds like a smear campaign on Oprah.Usually the journalist,finds one or two parents,out of hundreds, willing to complain while trying to convey the impression of widespread discontent.Interestingly only 2 parents actually raised questions in the story .

yes

they are complaining, instead of them to focus on school they are complaing,

education is the most important thing a girl could give herself.

those experiences if true are not worst than what many experienced in a private school or schools in those days. i think visitors/parents/friends from outside are distraction. they can always wait to see them during holidays.

you are going to a school where no penny from your poor family, free food, books etc and they are complaining,

abeg give them all more HOMEWORK.

abeg give them all more HOMEWORK.

Good talk, thank you. silly people

aaah aaah

what kinda rules is this

the parents can see their children onces a month
they should be allowed to see them whenever they want
i dnt think it woud mess with their studyin

but still doesnt make it a prison though

at oprahs school there are many many rules

To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected.


It doesn't come easy. Hardwork requires alot of dedication. This same parents have been having their kids at home and
crying for education. Now here is free education whose only requirement is ''work harder'' and they are complaining.

''only the tough one survives'' they are yet to know this life is survival of the fittest.

Moi wonders if they want suck breast,

Ungrateful bunch of people. If they dont like the school, let them pack out. That's the school rule, minimized visiting days for students, to cut the number of loittering on campus. This goes to show you that some humans would always complain, no matter what.

@4play,which set u dey for fedi enugu?holla

4 Play:

This is a "non-story".When I was in Secondary school(FGC Enugu),visiting day was the last Saturday of every month.We certainly did not have yoghurt and sandwiches .

Comparisons to prisons are ridiculous.The students have a choice which prisoners don't-they can get out the school and join another school or stop going to school entirely.Its their choice.

The story sounds like a smear campaign on Oprah.Usually the journalist,finds one or two parents,out of hundreds, willing to complain while trying to convey the impression of widespread discontent.Interestingly only 2 parents actually raised questions in the story .

its just most annoying to see people complain about standards in a world where we need more.As posted by Ndipe,they are certainly an ungratefullll bunch. Do they for one second think that Oprah does not have the children's interest at heart?I thought the students are supposed to be orphans so who now are all these parents complaining?

I wonder@redish. I read earlier that some of those students were orphaned, so parents being in the picture is a surprise to me. Let them do their kids a favor by withdrawing them from the school. I lived in boarding school for 6 years, and did not have the luxuries that the students are enjoying. What did they expect? To be pampered and coddled by Oprah. Goes to show you that some humans are ungrateful. Let them pack out to local schools, so they will be given access to see their parents

this is a typical situation in naija schools, fggc's to be precise. no be beg u for beg day students to call ur parents? which kin phone? was food even allowed? provisions where basic, whats sandwich and treats? anyway, Guess their not used to this life style, ship the school down to nigerian, as an extra touch add flogging/beating/koboko.

chai i don suffer sha, this baby4u2 just fine like star, omoge u fine well welllooooo

thanks sweety

so wetin deh with u babygurl, which part of naija u come from ?

sir, no bi the right place for this, sent u a mail.

where ?

iight got it