Released: April 1, 2009
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ: Oprah Winfrey has had another bit of bad news come out of her girls’ school in Africa and the press has jumped all over it like flies to honey. Why? How unusual is it for kids in boarding school to do the usual things that kids do when they’re away from school?
Bullies are everywhere and sexual experimentation is nothing new in either boarding or at-home schools and colleges. Ask around and, if people are being honest with you, you’ll find it more common than you thought. This doesn’t mean that predators should be tolerated, but neither does it mean that Winfrey needs to have her feet held to the fire for something that’s a part of growing up.
Is Oprah supposed to impose some sort of superhuman power over the school, the management and even the students? Should they feel like they’re going into an Oprah-run educational prison where even a look can get you into trouble? Is she supposed to, somehow, magically transform these girls into robots who only follow the rules, learn their lessons and leave school as Stepford girls? These kids are normal kids and they bring with them everything that kids do all around the world. Raising a family and running a school have a lot in common when it comes to trying to handle all the complexities that come up.
I applaud Oprah and what’s she’s trying to do for these girls and that’s the bottom line, not some bit of alleged “dirt” or lack of caring on her part. I believe she cares deeply, but running a school, especially when you’re thousands of miles away, ain’t easy.
http://www.drfarrell.net
Patricia A. Farrell, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Patricia A. Farrell, Ph.D., LLC
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Book Title : How to Be Your Own Therapist
Courtesy FeaturesUSA.com