Letters | THE ISSUE: OPRAH & INNER-CITY STUDENTS

Last week's Burning Question asked if Oprah Winfrey was right or wrong when she said that South African students showed more interest in education than inner-city American students did.

IAPPLAUD Oprah for her efforts and wisdom to build a school in South Africa vs. the United States. The wisdom involves understanding the circumstances, then judging who would be most appreciative.

Her statement that inner-city kids want material goods over an education is factual. Although the same can be said of Asians, Jews and affluent whites, at least actively pursuing a good education is part of their overall life strategy, stressed heavily across generations.

These endeavors are too valuable to be placed where they will not be appreciated. I support Oprah's efforts and decision.

N. Catina Blango, Philadelphia

Oprah is right. Here, schools are free, and yet our children are more concerned with what they wear and what material things they own than with learning.

So why not go to Africa and build a school for children who want to learn? Our children could learn a few things from the children of Africa.

Jessica Penny Rice, Philadelphia

Children today are so materialistic, in large part due to their parents, that things like education are not really a priority for many. On my way to work, I often see children of all ages walking to school with cell phones, iPods, CD players, basketballs, PSPs, Gameboys, etc. Often, I don't see a backpack that should contain books.

Some of these children are dressed in clothes that cost more than four or five of my outfits. During lunch, I often see teenagers walking around the malls when they should be in school. Many parents do not instill good work habits in their children, so they become complacent about the important things in life.

Lauren Ukkerd, Fontana, Calif.

I was disappointed to hear of Oprah's denunciation of all inner-city schools.

As a varsity basketball coach at the Young Scholars Charter School in North Philadelphia, I take umbrage with Ms. Winfrey's stereotyping of YSCS students since she has never met any them.

Our students do like iPods and sneakers, as we all do, but I'm confident that they are far less materialistic than the average viewer of her TV show. Oprah doesn't seem to mind the rampant materialism by her advertisers on her show and in her magazine when it benefits her. That's how she makes her millions.

Schools like Young Scholars and the nearby Gesu School provide children in North Philadelphia with a safe and nourishing environment where, regardless of their talents, academic excellence is expected.

With an emphasis on character formation, the schools train the children to be the leaders of tomorrow. If Ms. Winfrey has a desire to expiate for her thoughtless comments, she has an open invitation to visit our school. She is also welcome to bring her checkbook. We promise her donation won't go to iPods or sneakers.

Thomas F. Brzozowski, Somerdale, N.J.

Oprah is right on with her view of inner-city schools. Kids today think they are entitled to things like iPods and sneakers without having to work for them. Let Oprah help those who want to help themselves.

Niko Chan, Philadelphia

Oprah didn't talk to any students in Philadelphia. I'm confident that 90 percent would ask for books, computers, clothes, cash to help their parents with rent, food and utilities.

I hope Oprah can be generous in the Philadelphia area for students who desire to learn but don't have the resources to proceed with their education. Oprah's answer was based on students in Chicago, I think, not in Philadelphia.

Barbara Kelley, Philadelphia

Oprah, I commend you. Keep on doing what you're doing. People don't like to hear the truth.

There is so much that Oprah has done here in America. Is it because she chose out of her own pocket to help her own people that others have a problem?

Oprah always says, "To whom much is given, much is expected." This is so true. The more she does, the more people expect from her. An awful lot of kids are only concerned with what kind of clothes they wear, or the type of computer gadget they own. Parents tend to feed their children junk. It's Oprah's money, and she can spend it anyway she chooses.

Holly Weston, Philadelphia

Oprah, is as usual, off-base. While her intentions may be good, her reasoning and explanation are very disheartening.

She claims "frustration" caused her to stop visiting inner-city schools. I can understand her feeling that way. But what message is she sending to the parents and kids who go to these troubled schools? Should they just quit going?

Oprah could spend the money on troubled U.S. schools, perhaps implementing a pilot program designed to teach our at-risk kids the value of a quality education. (And just how important are 200 thread-count linens and a beauty salon to a good education anyway?)

Steve Mieczkowski, Bristol

It is quite sad that just like almost everyone else in the world, Ms. Winfrey has decided to give up on our youth.

Our world has become so materialistic, and Ms. Winfrey is not totally responsible, but what do you expect when you host a show of "my favorite things," showcase expensive items and then proclaim "Everybody is getting one!"?

Our children see her visits as the day Santa came to town. They want the Oprah who gives away stuff, not the humanitarian that could get schools the kind of assistance they need to perform well and give every child the chance at a real future.

I say to Ms. Winfrey, make sure the image you want the young people to see and respond to is the image you want them to see and respond to. Build a school in New Orleans!

Kim Dobson, Philadelphia

I believe she is correct, only the attitude is not just in inner-city schools.

It is a generational thing. Parents today are so interested in having their kids like them and not taking responsibility for their actions that children don't think there are any consequences for what they do.

They are consumed with being rewarded for everything they do and don't get it that an education is reward enough. I have three children, and they constantly want what others have.

It is up to us parents to set limits and teach them that school and an education are the keys to a successful future. Material things come and go with the pet rock but a high-school diploma and college degree are forever. The shooting and killing in the city are direct links to those feelings because these kids are all about what can I get now and not where will I be in 10 years.

Jennifer Cullen, Philadelphia

What do Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie have in common?

They don't buy American.

While there are thousands of American children in need of families, Jolie adopts outside the United States. And Oprah, with the help of her Angel Network, a charity funded with donations by Americans, builds a school in South Africa because she didn't get a sense of learning in our inner-city schools.

Oprah can build all the schools she wants outside the United States, but what she can't do is use our kids as an excuse for not helping here.

Her phony words remind me of John Kerry's remarks when he called our troops in Iraq stupid. If it were true that U.S. students asked her for iPods and sneakers, then her next step should've been to address the students and present them with a challenge.

By turning her back on our inner-city students, she left every child behind. Looking at it from our kids' perspective, a true hero would've said, "Boys and girls, I believe in you. You may want iPods and sneakers, but you need an education first and for that you need tokens and lunch money."

She could've used the same speech she used for her academy in South Africa, the one about "Education is the path to the future."

Develop a plan, Oprah. Call it the Sneakers-Goal Plan. A pair of sneakers exchanged for a diploma. But don't just walk away from our kids.

Did she even consult with the principals and dedicated teachers? With the parents? She talks about building dreams in South Africa. Guess what? This nation is built on the American dream!

Where is her spirit of patriotism? And what's wrong with Americans? Are you all asleep? Where are the outraged parents who should've taken offense when Oprah claimed that our students have no sense of learning?

If this had occurred in the '70s, our generation would've staged a protest to boycott her show just to make our statement. Our inner-city students are the future leaders of this country. They need all the help they can get to help them achieve their goals.

Millionaires like Oprah can afford to recognize these needs.

Carmen Gomez-Quintana

Philadelphia