Another day, another video, another battle. And this latest video features some feisty exchanges. Former Board of Education member Maria Pereira on Tuesday continued her reality film-roll challenge of canvassers working for Families for Excellent Schools, a charter school advocacy organization, accusing one of them of removing keys from her pocket and throwing them across Clinton Avenue near Bassick High School. Pereira, opposed to charter schools that run independently of traditional public schools, is withholding that video audio portion until it is reviewed by her attorney. Pereira is on a quest to show FES as a charlatan group, but as seen in this video the canvassers don’t back down, giving as good as they get. This video does not disappoint for passionate confrontation.
The latest narrative from Pereira to her education contacts follows:
Today was a very challenging day. I was assaulted by a female Families for Excellent Schools canvasser in front of Bassick High School. There were four paid canvassers assigned there today so the 1,100 students, most of whom are minors, could be solicited to sign the FES petition. I notified the Bassick PTSO president and staff about this troubling situation. Asking adults to sign a petition is very different from asking minors for their name, address, email and phone number. In my view, this is just crossing the line.
I approached four FES canvassers and quietly began to record them. Three of the FES canvassers immediately became aggressive and argumentative. The male FES canvasser in these videos repeatedly used foul language. You can hear one canvasser describing Bassick High School as “shitty.” I was accused of having a “blog,” sending my “children to private schools” and being compensated by YouTube to post videos on their site. As most of you know, I have never had a blog, I only have one child who only attended the Bridgeport Public Schools and YouTube is a free website that does not charge for access to the site, nor does it compensate individuals for posting videos to the site.
I have attached three of the four videos recorded today. I must show my attorney the fourth one prior to posting it on YouTube. This video has audio of the portion where a female FES canvasser approached me from behind, put her hand in my right rear pocket to remove my keys and then hurled them across Clinton Avenue. I have video of the two Bridgeport police officers who became involved in the incident and I am on way downtown to file a formal Citizen Complaint. Although I have this FES canvasser on video admitting in front of an officer she did take my keys from me and she did throw them across the street, he refused to arrest her.
Maria, I am beginning to be concerned about your welfare. I can easily see you getting into a physical altercation. They will hunt you down. These millionaires and billionaires will pay someone $50 to silence you. Please be careful. The Magnet schools in Bridgeport may in fact be better than all charter schools. Unfortunately, since most Bridgeport schools are not magnet schools, people want an option. It is not about who has the money, where the money is coming from, who is friends with the Mayor or the Governor. If you had a child you couldn’t get into a magnet school, would you accept your fate and send them to Curiale or Dunbar? I think you should know many many many people do support Charter schools. Even the Mayor’s former wife. A very competent teacher in the school system was also interested in starting a charter school. If the Charters do not perform, I guess they go under, no? Honestly, I am not so sure I understand why you are so adamantly opposed to a possible solution that could in fact improve the education and future generations of Bridgeport residents.
“Honestly, I am not so sure I understand why you are so adamantly opposed to a possible solution that could in fact improve the Education and future generations of Bridgeport residents.”
Are you saying people who would hunt us down or put a $50 hit on us are the kinds of people who could come up with solution that could in fact improve the education and future generations of Bridgeport residents?
Do not drink alcohol after taking your meds.
LOL, a thousand times.
Joel, did you really find it funny? Will you find it funny when someone actually punches Maria in the face and we read it in the Connecticut Post??? BTW I rarely take a drink but could use a FireBall, never take meds, were you talking from first-hand experience?
Steve, I never record these canvassers on my own, I always have a witness for that very reason. I grew up on the East Side of Bridgeport, believe me, I can handle myself.
Steve, the video wasn’t funny but it is revealing as to how ignorant these petition circulators are. The ignorant comment you posted isn’t funny either–it makes me think you should be managing the group of circulators. They were instructed not to give interviews and here we have two of them giving more than just an interview. I’m sure Maria can take a punch in the face and more. Ever heard of taking one for the team?
Steve, please do not fear for my welfare. As you heard the police officer in this video state, I am not doing anything illegal by recording FES canvassers when they are in a public domain. It was the FES canvassers who aggressively addressed me, not the reverse. I did not say one word to them when I started recording them.
Steve, Charter Schools have existed for over 20 years and all the data and research clearly demonstrates they do NOT perform better than true public schools. And in all honesty, based on their demographics, they should perform significantly better than true public schools. They underserve the most difficult students to teach, including poor, ELL and special needs students. How is it they do not service these students who require significantly more resources to educate and yet they still do not perform better than true public schools?
When the demographics of charter schools represent the same demographics as true public schools, perform better, stop siphoning millions from true public schools and stop pocketing millions in outrageous managements fees, then we can talk. Until then I will take every opportunity available to me to expose them.
I enrolled my daughter into the Multi-Cultural Magnet lottery when she was 4 years old. She was drawn and placed as number five on a waiting list. We were never called, however I did not have any interest in enrolling her in a parochial, private or charter school. I am a passionate believer in true public education. By the way my daughter attended Roosevelt School from Pre-K through sixth grade and it was ranked as a Needs Improvement school.
This past Spring, the elected Parent Advisory Council presidents of every BPS voted on a resolution to place a moratorium on charter schools in Bridgeport. Only one president voted against the resolution. The elected parent leaders represent over 30,000 BPS parents.
I read the Mayor’s ex-wife’s application, I don’t know if you did. I can tell you it was very poorly written and she was not even invited to an interview with the Connecticut State Department of Education. She ultimately withdrew her application.
As far as I know, the most comprehensive study completed on the success or failure of charter schools was completed by Stanford University in 2009. The study examined charter school performance in 16 states. The study found 17% of students performed better than their peers in traditional public schools, 46% performed no better or worse and 37% performed worse.
Billions have been invested in Charter Schools for over 20 years and these dismal results are what you consider the “possible solution” to improving education in Bridgeport. Sorry Steve, the facts and data do not support your “possible solution.”
Steve, and certainly anyone else who may be interested, please take a few minutes to listen to Diane Ravitch speak on a variety of education topics such as charter schools, poverty, common core, teacher tenure, millionaires and billionaires. I thought she was outstanding in this interview.
www .pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/interviews/diane-ravitch-2/?show=22604
You are right. Charters will not help much, you will just have the same irresponsible parents sending their kids there. Holding parents accountable and responsible will make the Bridgeport school district go from worst to first.
Pereira should take a ride to Stamford and see if Vince McMahon is looking for a new female wrestling champion.
BPT REBEL, I would only consider it if my name could be “Maria Piranha.” That would be a non-negotiable term of my contract.
The FES should vet the people canvassing on their behalf. The behavior of the young ladies shown on this video was combative, rude, not only to Maria but to the police officer calmly doing his job in a professional manner. How sad, these individuals are representing an organization that claims to have the education of children as their priority.
Please read this recent post by Jonathan Pelto. It completely exposes Malloy’s claims he has significantly increased funding for public schools. Look at the increase to charter schools in comparison to true public schools. The increase for children in charter schools located in Bridgeport is $2,000 per child, however the 20,000 students who attend the BPS have only received an increase of approximately $300 per child.
jonathanpelto.com/2014/09/09/governor-malloys-record-state-funding-public-schools/
Pelto shows how the State of CT has increased funding to cities over several years. Attention to Stamford was to be a natural, but isn’t it interesting to see Hamden, where Fran Rabinowitz served with big gains? Perhaps her work with the State and then with Hamden has commanded attention and will move Bridgeport’s needs to the fore.
But are Pelto and Pereira forgetting something when they talk about the funds necessary to operate the schools whether run by the BBOE or by Boards of a Charter? Where do you show the local contribution of $50 Million or more (and the Mayor would probably want some credit for in-kind but since it has never been the subject of an audited “white paper” I will only mention it without indicating a specific value). The BPS get local taxpayer money. The Charter Schools do not except where State mandates for transportation and special education, for example, come from BPS local funds.
Statistical comparisons using percentages or specific to only some of the inputs or certain time periods can be made to show what you desire to create as an impression, but not necessarily “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
It’s a big subject with lots of details and changes happening all the time. But Maria and friends might once in a while note with Vallas came more regular operating budget disclosure than ever seen by the Bridgeport public in decades. Isn’t that a good thing without qualification? Time will tell.
J M L,
Say what?
Black Rockin–my sentiments exactly.
BR and Godiva,
Perhaps you did not read the Pelto article Maria referenced. I did, and the first two comments reference that data. Tried to keep my comments brief, but critics of the current public funding of Charter and BOE schools seem to neglect to mention the City of Bridgeport property taxpayer is part of the formula from which the Charter Schools themselves do not benefit (noted transportation and special ed exceptions).
I then noted the way statistics, especially the use of percentages, can provide a less than full sense of the truth of a situation. And finally, since former interim Superintendent Vallas is generally criticized by Pereira and friends, I suggest he get an award for initiating the posting of regular operating budget information including employment positions and grants. Three years ongoing of open, accountable and transparent fiscal (operating budget) behavior in Bridgeport. Is it a start, or a finish? Time will tell.
Maria–I too am somewhat concerned about your physical well-being as you are placing yourself in a situation where there is a strong possibility you are going to end up in a fight. You are just one person and there are more of the people you are confronting, so regardless of your ability to handle yourself, you are outnumbered and placing yourself in a situation that could turn violent. I admire your dedication to your cause, but I think you should find a better way to get your message across without putting yourself in harm’s way.
Godiva2011, thanks for your concern, however I always record in broad daylight, well-traveled locations and with a witness. I am about to start knocking on 1,000 doors and having these videos on my cell phone will easily demonstrate to those in my community these hired guns are telling lies, lack any reasonable level of knowledge on public vs. charter schools and convince my immediate community to take both FES and these paid canvassers for what they truly are, charlatans.
This video is dumb. These young girls are teens. They are probably 16-year-olds who just want a little money. Legal to film but the behavior of filming someone is inciteful and easily upsets people. Duh. It comes across like she is just trying to cause a reaction in people. This is a new low. She should save this energy and just run for council where this energy will matter more than debating pubescent girls.
BptPorter, whether you believe “filming someone is inciteful and easily upsets people,” it is still perfectly legal. It also in no way justifies a Families for Excellent Schools paid canvasser putting their hands on me and throwing my keys across Clinton Avenue. Neither of these female canvassers were minors, if they were, they were either cutting high school or are high school dropouts. Based on my up close and personal experience with these canvassers, I believe both were at least eighteen years of age and more likely in their early twenties.
There was no “debate.” These canvassers starting addressing me, not I addressing them. “Debating” these young ladies, and I use the term quite loosely, would be pointless because they lacked even the most basic information regarding FES, charter schools vs. public schools and CT state laws governing both public and charter schools.
I will tell you I have received quite a few phone calls and emails regarding the videos I have taken and significant support from those who have encouraged me to continue the work I am doing by recording these FES canvassers telling blatant lies and recording their unprofessional behavior.
I am confident when I show people these videos while knocking on doors, I will have to say very little to discredit Families for Excellent Schools, their canvassers will have done this work for me.
Calling someone an a$$hole is also legal.