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December 29, 2005

Letters by Cranston middle-schoolers on same-sex marriage spur concerns

CRANSTON – The School Department is concerned about letters written by middle school students to a local newspaper on the subject of same-sex marriage.

Asst. Supt. M. Richard Scherza said today that the topic -- which Park View eighth-graders expressed their views on in this week's edition of The Cranston Herald -- was not appropriate for that age group and he will be taking the matter up with administrators and teachers.

Mayor Stephen P. Laffey also weighed in, appearing on television and talk radio to say that he did not think that it was appropriate for youngsters at the middle school level to be discussing gay marriage. Scherza said he agrees with the mayor.

Elizabeth Seal, editor of The Cranston Herald, said that about three months ago, the weekly paper began running letters to the editor from Cranston school students under the heading of "Shout Out." She said the page appears once a month and that the project was worked out in conjunction with the School Department.

More to come on projo.com and in tomorrow's Journal.

- Journal staff writer Barbara Polichetti

Posted by Jack Perry  at 3:46 PM | Permalink