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American students have strides to make when it comes to math and science, where they lag behind a solid block of East Asian countries, according to results released Tuesday from an international exam.

Eighth graders in the United States improved their scores in math over the last four years, up nine points. Scores for science, however, were flat. In fourth grade, scores were unchanged in the math and science tests.

“The results do suggest a leveling out in the most recent cycle,” said Ina Mullis, an executive director of the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College, where researchers helped coordinate staff to administer the assessments. “One always prefers to see improvement, but holding one’s own is preferable to declining.”

Singapore topped the rankings, taking first place in both grades for math and science on the tests, known as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, or TIMSS. The tests are administered every four years to a random sampling of students in dozens of countries.

Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan also dominated the lists for each grade in both subjects.

The United States placed 10th in fourth-grade science as well as in eighth-grade math. In eighth-grade science, the U.S. tied with Ireland in 10th place. It ranked 14th for fourth-grade math, just behind Portugal and Kazakhstan.

While the short-term trend for American students overall wasn’t glowing, scores over the last 20 years have improved considerably. Math and science scores for eighth graders had sharp gains, as did scores for fourth-grade math. Science scores for fourth graders showed no statistical change over the last two decades.

Matt Larson, president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, said the results show there’s work to be done, but that he’s encouraged overall by the growth since the mid-90’s.

“This may reflect an increased focus on mathematics in the early grades and could be a longer-term effect of standards reform and the implementation of research-informed instructional practices in more schools.”

Here is a good cop story amidst recent negative reporting about police:

A Maryland police officer responding to a call Thursday night about a woman sobbing hysterically in a car at a shopping mall ended it with a timely rescue.

It was almost like something you’d see on TV or in a movie.

When Officer Dave Reed approached the parked car, he discovered a woman sitting hunched over on the passenger side of the car crying uncontrollably. First she tried to hide what was in her lap from him but then shifted slightly to reveal an infant which looked lifeless, WTOP reports.

The baby was wrapped in a heavy fleece blanket and when the baby’s head rolled back, “the eyes kind of rolled back in the baby’s head,” Reed explained to the station.

He could see the baby was unconscious and unresponsive. Reed used his expert training and adjusted the usual CPR procedure to accommodate the small baby. He used his two fingers to apply chest compressions and the heel of this hand to gently tap the baby’s back.

“Not hard, just enough to jolt the baby,” he said. And that’s when he heard a gasp to let him know the baby was breathing and then eventually it let out a cry.

“I knew we were good — when you can hear a baby cry, then you know you’re good,” the 12-year veteran of the Montgomery County Police Department said.

The baby was released to relatives today, and hospital officials say she will make a full recovery.

It wasn’t until Reed was at the hospital with the two when he realized the heroism of his actions and that he saved a baby.

“She looked at me with those big brown eyes and grabbed my finger. I was ready to take her home right then,” he said about the child.

The whole situation made him appreciate his own kids more, Officer Reed shared.

“Every night when I go home, I always go in and kiss them and tell them, ‘Daddy’s home safe.’ Last night, I … kind of stayed a little longer,” he said.

Awwww! *sniff* Where are the tissues?

While Reed was resuscitating the tiny infant, the child’s father returned to the car. The baby’s 21-year old mom was taking to the hospital for medical evaluation, Montgomery County Police Department revealed.

Police, Child Protective Services and the state’s Attorney’s office are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

photo courtesy WTOP/Kate Ryan

WTOP

Report: America Continues to Lag Behind East Asian Nations in Math, Science

MD Cop’s Heroic Infant Rescue is like Something You’d see on TV