SOUTH ORANGE -- Are kids refusing a photo with a prominent politician exercising their free speech, or being disrespectful?

That debate has stirred in South Orange after a group of 8th grade students reportedly refused to take a photo with Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan while on a trip to Washington, D.C.

According to a report from The Village Green, the group of South Orange Middle School students were touring the Capitol during a field trip when they were offered the photo opp. About half of the students refused, while the other half took the picture, the report said.

Students told the local news site they had varied reasons for turning down the picture, including that they did not agree with political views expressed by Ryan, a Republican. South Orange is an overwhelmingly Democratic town in Essex County.

According to the report, parents took to social media to express varied reactions to the kids' refusal, with one saying she was "proud" of the students' "powerful statement." Another parent, the report said, wrote "Meeting our representatives is an honor for a kid...I do feel if there had been some conservative school where the kids refused to pose with President Obama, we would have been appalled by that."

A spokesman for Ryan said, "Speaker Ryan always appreciates the opportunity to welcome students to the Capitol." Ryan also posted a photo of the visit to his Instagram account.

A spokeswoman for the South Orange Maplewood school district did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.