ENCORE: PE and Art Linked to Graduation; Age Friendly Cities And Towns; White Lies Research

Americans older than 65 will be our largest age group within 20 years. Advocates say that means it’s time to rethink the way we design our local communities. Plus, if you think that only science, math and history are the key to success in school, think again. It turns out art and PE can have a big effect on graduation rates. And, we’ve all told little white lies. But according to research from the University of Chicago, the whole truth and nothing but the truth might be the best way to go.

PE and Art Linked to Graduation

According to a study from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, it turns out that failing a class like PE or art in freshman year could be just as damaging to a student’s chance of graduating as other subjects like English, math and science.

Jenny Naga-oka  is the study’s author and the consortium’s deputy director. 

Michael Skura is Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Oswego High School. He’s also the Advocacy Advisor with the Illinois Art Education Association. And Mark Foellmer, is the incoming President of the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance. 

They spoke with Niala Boodhoo last fall.

Age Friendly Cities And Towns

Our country’s demographics are always changing. And one big change is an increase in the percentage of older Americans. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that people age 65 and older will be the largest age group in the country by 2035. 

So how well are our communities actually designed for older people? Several cities and towns across Illinois have decided that it’s important to commit, publicly, to making their communities quote, age-friendly. 

Wendy Bartlo is an outreach specialist with the University of Illinois’ College of Applied Health Sciences. Kathleen Holden is a retired associate chancellor with the U of I. They’re both part of a group called “Age-Friendly CU” that aims to make the Champaign-Urbana area a better place to live for older adults.  

And Ryan Gruenenfelder is director of advocacy and outreach with AARP Illinois. The three of them spoke with Niala Boodhoo back in June of this year.

White Lies Research

You should always tell the truth... well except for those little white lies. Those are pretty harmless, right?

Emma Levine isn’t so sure. She’s an assistant professor of behavioral science at University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Her research explores the consequences of honesty in everyday life. Turns out people can often afford to be more honest than they think.

Back in January, Niala Boodhoo spoke to Professor Levine from the University of Chicago campus.