This just in:

Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 2 (82% in favor, 17% against). The amendment was listed on the ballot as protecting the right of citizens to pray and express their religious beliefs (rights already guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution). Nothing at the ballot box warned voters that the amendment also promises "no student shall be compelled to perform or participate in academic assignments or educational presentations that violate his or her religious beliefs." Will creationist students use this as a permission slip to skip lessons on evolution?

How will this all shake out? Good question. One man with perspective on this event is NCSE's policy director Josh Rosenau. If you'd like to chat with him, let me know!

Text of the amendment: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2012ballot/fulltext_1.pdf

Think Progress's take
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/08/09/662851/missouri-right-to-pray-amendment-will-allow-creationists-to-refuse-to-study-evolution/?mobile=nc

...and in other news:

* New video: Inside the Louisiana Science Education Act
NCSE board member Barbara Forrest digs into the LSEA, why it passed, why repeal will be very difficult, how the legislative message of science denial is spreading to other states (like Tennessee), and more. http://youtu.be/y9tWj5If3PQ

* Why climate denial?
Genie Scott drills down into climate change denial, the sorry state of climate science education, the pressure teachers are under, and more.
http://ncse.com/news/2012/08/scott-climate-change-education-007510

rl