Eighth grade students were asked to respond to a pair of historic Supreme Court hearings (March, 2013) challenging state and federal laws that define marriage to include only unions of a man and a woman. One of the cases, from California, could establish or reject a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. The justices could also make a ruling that would apply only to marriages in California. The second case, from New York, challenges a federal law that requires the federal government to deny benefits to gay and lesbian couples married in states that allow such unions.

They (students) were tasked to write an opinion paragraph(s) about gay or same-sex marriage. This exercise creates a greater awareness of the gay community and their desires, specifically their hope of having the same right ... as with heterosexual couples ... to marry their partner. It (exercise) is in keeping with current events as they relate to the nationwide debate and Supreme Court hearings on same-sex marriage.

A selection of responses from the 8th grade students follows (Click on initials below to open their essays in PDF format.) (Editing of other responses in progress.):