0
1
"As far as we're concerned, we back the school district 100 percent," Lane Patton, whose step-daughter Averee was one Amy Estes' students. "She shouldn't have her sexual preferences pushed on you and our religious views shouldn't be pushed on anybody else."
If you're viewing this on the ABC10 App, tap here for multimedia.
The parents of a student whose teacher says she was bullied by students when they learned she was gay say they support the school district's response to the situation and believe it was the teacher who infringed on their daughter's right to free speech.
"As far as we're concerned, we back the school district 100 percent," Lane Patton, whose step-daughter Averee was one Amy Estes' students. "She shouldn't have her sexual preferences pushed on you and our religious views shouldn't be pushed on anybody else."
Last week, Estes, a middle school teacher at Spring View Middle School in Rocklin, said she had to go on mental health leave after her students cyber-bullied her when they learned she was gay -- something she had never addressed in class. Estes said she did not feel safe and supported by her school administration, which she had hoped would address her concerns and organize a school-wide lesson on tolerance.
After that story aired, Patton and his wife Karin reached out to ABC10 hoping to share their side of the story. They say the school is a safe space and that LGBTQ issues and beliefs should not be addressed in school.