Article snippet: Most popular on bostonglobe.com Based on what you've read recently, you might be interested in theses stories WASHINGTON — For students across the country, the traditional eighth-grade trip to Washington is a chance to join the throngs on the Mall and perhaps spot some of the world’s most powerful people on the grounds of the US Capitol. But a group from South Orange Middle School in New Jersey will probably remember their trip to the nation’s capital last week for another reason: It was the occasion for a pointed snub of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan. About half of the roughly 150 students on the trip refused to have their photo taken with Ryan when he briefly joined them outside the Capitol Thursday. Instead, they stood across the street while Ryan posed with their peers. Matthew Malespina, 13, said in an interview Sunday that he chose not to be photographed with Ryan because he disagreed with the policies the speaker and his party are pushing on health care, among other things. ‘‘I don’t want to be associated with a man who puts his party before his country,’’ Matthew said. ‘‘I don’t like to take a picture with somebody that I can’t associate with. Let’s say somebody is not nice to me at school, for example. I wouldn’t take a picture with them, probably.’’ Matthew’s mother, Elissa Malespina, a public-school librarian, said she was surprised but pleased to hear of the students’ protest action. ‘‘I’m proud of him, and I’m proud of the other students that ... Link to the full article to read more