European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 6, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a the stars and stripes thursday february 6, 1992 . Children fare poorly in math science testing Washington apr when it conies to math and science skills . Schoolchildren lag behind students in at least a dozen other countries the educational testing service says. Thirteen year Olds from the United states scored lower in science than youngsters in top ranked Korea Taiwan Switzerland the former soviet Union Hungary France Italy Israel Canada Scotland Slovenia and Spain the Survey showed. Ireland and Jordan were the Only countries surveyed that had 13-year-Olds scoring lower in science than . Students. The math results were similar for the 13-year-Olds. The Survey did not include All nations. American 9-year-Olds fared better in science averaging the third highest percentage of Correct answers behind Korea and Taiwan. But the fourth graders ranked near the Bottom in mathematics averaging a significantly lower percentage of Correct answers than nearly All other students including those from Korea Hungary Taiwan the former soviet Union Spain Ireland and Canada. A this study confirms beyond any doubt that our students Are not even near the Best in either science or mathematics skills a said Luther s. Williams director of education and human resources for the National science foundation. The Survey the second International assessment of educational Progress involved a random Sample of 3,300 students from about 110 schools from each pop alcoholism rising among elderly by Cox news service Washington a loneliness and isolation Are increasingly driving old people to drinking a congressional report warned tuesday. Alcoholism affects nearly 2.5 million elderly americans and up to half of All nursing Home residents have alcohol related problems said the report by the House select committee on aging. A widowers Over the age of 75 have the highest rate of alcoholism in the country a said the report. The study was released at a congressional hearing where experts and elderly witnesses discussed a problem that is escalating As the population Ages. By 2025, one in five americans will be Over the age of 60, compared with about one in nine now. The problems Are compounded by the body changes that accompany aging and result both in a lower tolerance for alcohol Ana an increased susceptibility to its toxic effects the report said. But witnesses said Many elderly people turn to drinking because of the emotional and psychological trauma that too often accompanies aging. A Many of the elderly first of All have lost a spouse a said the Rev. Joseph Martin a 67-year-old recovering alcoholic a Many Are neglected it you will by their grown children who have families Ana problems of their  the report said the Cost of the problem is staggering. One in five hospitalized elderly people had a diagnosis of alcoholism. In 1990, the Cost of alcohol related Hospital care for the elderly was estimated at $60 billion. A of All hospitalized patients 25 percent have alcohol related problems but for the elderly this figure is much higher a 56 percent a said rep. Mary Rose Oakar a Ohio a committee member. Washington up a a group of . Researchers charged tuesday that the a cancer establishment has hoodwinked the Public into thinking Progress has been made against the disease. Or. Samuel Epstein of the University of Illinois school of Public health and 64 other researchers said that cancer rates Are increasing and Little Effort has been made to prevent the disease. A you have been consistently misled a by the National cancer Institute the american cancer society and the 22 cancer centers supported by the government he said. Epstein who was joined by or. Eula Bingham a toxicologist and former official with the occupational safety and health administration said half of All government cancer funding should be earmarked for outreach and prevention. Elation at each age level. Half of the students were assessed in math and half in science. The report did not compare test results with the first Survey because some countries did not test All students in the selected age groups. In science korean 13-year-Olds ranked first with an average 77.5 percent Correct answers followed by 75.6 for Taiwan 73.7 for Switzerland 73.4 for Hungary and 71.3 for the former soviet Union. The United states posted an average 67 percent Correct followed by 63.3 for Ireland and 56.6 for Jordan. Jordan a 13-year-old students ranked last in mathematics with an average 40.4 percent Correct answers. . Students averaged 55.3 percent Correct. Korea was first with 73.4, followed by Taiwan at 72.7, Switzerland 70.8 and the former soviet Union 70.2. For 9-year-Olds, koreans average for Correct answers in math was 74.8 percent followed by 68.2 for Hungary 68.1 for Taiwan and 65.9 for the former soviet Union. The United states had 58.4, while Slovenia had 55.8. In science Korea again ranked first with an average 67.9 percent Correct followed by Taiwan a 66.7 and the United states 64.7. Canada ranked fourth followed by Hungary Spain the former soviet Union Israel Slovenia and Ireland. Williams said the study found a close correlation Between certain school features and student habits and achievement. For example the top performing countries appeared to offer More demanding mathematics and science courses for 13-year-Olds.reapplying for Job Mica England left picks up an application for a Dallas police Job tuesday a Day after a judge struck Down a department policy Banning homosexuals from the Force. The judge made the ruling in a lawsuit filed by England 27, after she was denied a Job As a Dallas police officer in 1987 because she is a lesbian. A the National cancer Institute and the american cancer society Are fixated on diagnosis and treatment a he said but efforts to reduce cancer causing chemicals in foods and air would Cut the cancer rates. In response the National cancer Institute said the Agency agrees that occupational factors need serious consideration in cancer causation a and that one third of its resources go toward prevention and cancer control research. The statement also said significant Progress has been made against childhood cancers. According to Epstein Overall cancer incidence has increased 44 percent since 1950, with breast cancer and male Colon cancer jumping 60 percent. Cancer kills about 514,000 people each year in the United states according to the american cancer society. .monopoly player pleads guilty to Arrow slaying from wire reports Doylestown a. A a 25-year-old Man pleaded guilty to criminal homicide for shooting a Friend in the Chest with an Arrow after an argument Over monopoly game rules. After Marc . Cienkowski a guilty plea monday a judge began considering whether to find him guilty of first degree murder third degree murder or manslaughter. The outcome will determine what penalties Cienkowski might face. Witnesses said Cienkowski argued with Michael j. Klucznik 31, of Plumsteadville Over the rules As they played monopoly Early july 19 in Cienkowski a Home in the Philadelphia suburb of Bensalem. Klucznik left and Cienkowski followed carrying his Bow and Arrow. Moments later Cienkowski returned and said he had shot Klucznik according to a witness John  previously cited Palm Bay Fla. A a circus at which a rampaging elephant injured six people had been cited in the past year for a string of Federal animal welfare violations including failing to control animals around people. The department of agriculture fined the great american circus $1,500 last month for violations including the 1991 escape of a Leopard that bit a 3-year-old girl in the neck according to inspection records. In saturdays incident an 8,000-Pound Indian elephant was shot to death by police after it stormed out of control through the circus grounds. Part of the time it had passengers on its Back. On monday the agriculture department sent officials to inspect the circus and its animals. The Federal investigation and a separate investigation by the state game and fresh water fish commission Are  offer rakes in guns Minneapolis a a county Cash for guns program was so successful that officials Are calling it off after the $150,000 fund ran out tuesday. In its first five Days the a drop your guns program which paid $50 per weapon with no questions asked brought in 5,000 guns. About 60 percent of them were handguns. The program was designed to get weapons out of teen agers hands. The response quickly ate up the programs budget assembled from drug forfeiture funds and private donations. County attorney Mike Freeman said a committee would be formed to raise More Money so police would not have to do it anymore. A $50,000 fund for a similar program in Louisville ky., was depleted after two Days a county spokeswoman said tuesday. The program which began monday netted 1,057 guns. It was to run until feb. 28 or until the Money ran out. Officials in Louisville paid $25 each for rifles or shotguns and $50 for handguns with no questions  to sell line again Portland Ore a Nike inc. Said tuesday that it will reintroduce a line of women a shoes and clothing with a redesigned logo following a lawsuit by a rival sportswear maker. A Federal judge in los Angeles ordered Nike in november to Stop Selling and advertising its Side i women a aerobics style shoes and apparel because they infringed on a trademark by Side out which specializes in menus Active Wear. The new Side 1 logo resembles a horizontal Oval while the former logo included a Triangle in a Square that resembled the hideout logo. The Side 1 goods will go on Sale this summer Nike said. Hideout of Pasadena calif., filed a trademark infringement lawsuit last june against Nike which has More than $3 billion in annual sales. A trial Date has not been set. Researchers critical of cancer groups