Application of the Term Fascist to the Middletown School District

At the November 4th meeting of the Board of Education, the behavior of Mr. Geiger and and Dr. Eastwood was shocking, disturbing, and indicative of a general pattern of behavior. On several occasions he prohibited Mrs. Isseks and Mr. Paul from asking questions. In the process, he both insulted and denigrated them for the nature, and appropriateness of their questions. His response to their asking of probing questions is nothing new, and has been the subject of previous blogs. Mr. Geiger, Dr.Eastwood, and the board majority react aggressively, reflexively, and with hostility to all individuals who question or challenge the image and propaganda promulgated by the district.

The public may remember when Mr. Geiger prevented the Mayor from speaking at a board meeting, and he prohibited a board member from another district form speaking. At that time, Mr. Geiger and Dr. Eastwood had this individual arrested for trespassing, and they both currently are being sued in Federal Court over this incident On several occasions, in the name of maintaining order, Mr. Geiger has prohibited Mrs. Isseks, Dr. Mauro, and Mr. Paul from asking pertinent and relevant questions. At the same time, he does not inhibit his fellow members of the board majority from interjecting statements and asking questions. In sum, all these observations brings us to only one conclusion i.e. Mr. Geiger, Dr. Eastwood, and the board majority are suppressing dissent, and unwanted probing questions.

As part of its definition of Fascism, Webster includes these statements in its definition -

... a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control...
... social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition...

Using this description of fascism, and from the information the public already has about the district, we will leave it to our readers to determine whether or not the term fascist is appropriately applied to the district.

Possible motivations of Eastwood supporters

Many loyal viewers have been e-mailing "Inside Middletown Schools" asking what the possible motivations of Dr. Eastwood supporters could be. Some say that the actions and behaviors of people like Edwin Estrada are bazaar and to quote one email "nuts." "Inside Middletown Schools" has been asking the same questions and here's the story you've all been waiting for.

Board President Will Geiger - If anyone has followed the history of this school board, you would know that Mr Geiger has not always been a staunch supporter of Dr. Eastwood. In fact, the two of them would have knock out, drag out fights in public, with Geiger screaming across the room with insults towards Eastwood. Now that has seemed to cease and the two are best of friends. Possible motivation: Geiger's wife recently got a cushy promotion with more money and clout.

Board Vice-President Linda Knapp - If anyone has followed the history of this school board, you would know that Linda Knapp doesn't often seem to know what she's talking about. That is...until one of her colleagues speaks first, then she follows suite. No one really knows what her true motivation is, but we know that she recently got the food court stand named after her! That should make her proud.

Edwin Estrada - First off, what a nut! If you want to know what the superintendent is thinking, just ask Estrada. Where you see one, you see the other. But on a more serious note, Mr. Estrada seriously could use psychological help. He rants, raves, shouts, yells, screams, kicks, rattles -- all in an effort to get his way. He can only get along with people who agree with him. Possible motivation: (1) Extra district attention for his children (2) Stature in the community and (3)increased name recognition for his employer, Orange County Trust Bank.

If you have any suggestions of your own and wish to submit them to "Inside Middletown Schools" please do so by sending them to insidemiddletown@yahoo.com. If your comments past muster they will be posted to the site.