NEW YORK, June 16 (UPI) -- A New York City fifth-grader can read his contest-winning essay on gay marriage at a school assembly but parents can pull out their children, an official says.
Beryl Bailey, principal at PS195 in New York's Queens borough, barred 10-year-old Kameron Slade from presenting his essay urging respect for same-sex marriage Friday, the New York Post reported.
The city Education Department stepped in and said Slade will be allowed to read his essay at an assembly Monday.
City schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said, however, while the fifth-grader "has the right" to present his essay, the extra day will give the teacher time "to reach out to those parents to make them aware of the content of the speech -- because we're talking about an elementary school."
