Oprah's School

Friday, July 25th – Day 7
*** Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy
Our group drove up to the double-fenced entrance way and signed in to Oprah’s all girl school. As you could imagine, due to the controversy surrounding many different issues the school is not opt to volunteer group tours (especially not during the school year). We were very lucky to get a tour through the different buildings by the executive director (principal). As we walked around we could see that Oprah truly appreciates aesthetics. She believes the positive effects of creating a beautiful environment for the girls. She has endorsed local tradesmen and craftsmen in the process. Oprah has personally hand-picked all of the artwork and gives back to the community by paying the locals. The school has two alleys: one leads to the buildings for learning and the other leads to the residential areas. The school has only been around for 3 years and so now this year will be a determining year. As the oldest class prepares to take its matric exam, the girls will be compared to other students within South Africa. Now the school can be assessed to see if this social and academic experiment truly has positive academic effects and advantages for the girls. Once Oprah can show that these girls are as achieving as other well privileged schools, hopefully the idea will spread and create more such schools for disadvantaged students and perhaps there will be less controversy surrounding the school. But then, if her girls don’t do too well, well then a lot of the structure needs to be re-examined.
How are the girls selected? Oprah personally interviews the girls and she asks such questions as: What do you read? Figures out if the girl shows inclination for leadership. Determines that the total income at home is no more than $70 dollars per month.
They are of varying faiths, including: Muslim, Hindu, Christian, ancestral worship, etc.

At school the girls’ education focuses on the maths, sciences, and performing arts in order to create an integrated experience. Wow, when we walked into their amphitheater we were blown away with the movie theater like cushioned sets, walkway for lighting connected to the ceiling, and the large stage for performances. Most impressive was the library. Again you can see that it stressed beauty and perfection. There were computer stations and side study rooms. We were glad to learn that each year the girls get to select 5 books that they can make their own before vacation. The idea is for the girls to build their own personal library and I would hope help encourage their younger siblings to also read. The girls certainly do show that they appreciate the treat of owning their own book!

Hmmm . . . As we walked around I kept thinking about the huge disconnect between the girls’ home life and the Oprah school. At the Oprah school they have a wellness center (that provides them with routine check-ups and additional eye and teeth needs), a fully stocked and connected library, clean and equipped classrooms, beautiful and well designed dorm suites, etc. It is a huge culture shock! How can the girls later go back home and see their siblings and families struggle their daily battles with simple needs such as water, electricity and heat that the girls do not have to worry about anymore? Do they become more motivated to make something of themselves through school? Do they end up less motivated and feel unfair? How could they possible feel about the disparity? How do they feel during and then after they make their phone calls home on Friday nights? Talk about resilience and ability to move between both worlds!
I wish we could have sat down with a group of girls and asked them such questions.

Imagine, a school with 225 girls and 45 clubs available to them!
I was interested to learn, after we spoke with a school administrator, that the school is looking for teaching internships, especially in the sciences and maths. I am glad to hear that they are opening their doors to foreigners, outsiders and to those who can broaden views on teaching styles and materials. Since it is a new school in a new era, these “Mandela girls” are being taught by teachers who create their own curriculum and then plan to unify along the way.

Hopefully it will not begin too much of a situation of entitlement. These girls have been given the opportunity to focus solely on school, taken out of a harmful environment, and have been promised a full ride to college/university. I hope that they will show the world how far they can go with all that they have been offered, as survivors and leaders.

Separate is not equal!
High security because these girls are celebrities when outside of the school.

My observation:
The South African student experience is very similar to an immigrant’s experience. Similar in the ways they have to struggle and the differences they face amongst other students that have more advantages at the start.
- Contrast between the generations