When a Report Card Meant Something
When I went to Holy Angels Grade School in West Oak Lane in Philadelphia in the 1960's, we were tested repeatedly for academic, civics and character and assigned grades that reflected our efforts. As well, we were assigned grades for religion, English, Social Studies, Arithmetic, Science, Handwriting, Art, Music and Health Education.
Four times a year, we were given a report card that rates us with an A, B, C, D or F according to how our teachers viewed our work.
For proof, here I provide examples of my report cards over those years.
I had forgotten about these over the years, but my dear departed mother saved them.
When she died in 2004, it took my 6 siblings and I (one was missing) about 4 hours to divide up all her possessions.
We donated the furniture for her apartment to a charity.
Then we sat in a circle and divided up the cards, letters and report cards (and in my case poems and my letters from Paris France when I went to the American College in Paris in 1975) we had sent her over the years.
My mother saved my report cards over all those years and I share them here.
What Grades Meant in the 1960's
Back then, the school system was clear about what each grade meant.
"The habits and attitudes listed below are desirable trains for good living. The teachers has indicated those which have stood out as distinctly commendable, as well as those for whose further development the cooperation of he parents is desired.
A indicates traits in which pupil is outstanding
B indicates traits in which pupil is above average.
C indicates traits in which pupil is satisfactory
D indicates traits in which improvement is needed
F indicates failure.
(A check after an entry indicates that improvement has been shown.)"
Grades were issued four times a year.
You had to present them them your parents who had to sign their signature as proof they saw the grades and discussed them with you.
There was also a "school night" when the parents would go from classroom to classroom to discuss your grades with every teacher who taught you.
Citizen, Character and Health Grades
Areas in which we were judged included:- Cooperation
- Self Control
- Perseverance
- Courage
- Obedience
- Orderliness
- Health Habits
Each trait is described in the report cards shown here.
School Subject Grades
Again, the grade description was clear.
"Subjects are graded in multiples of 5: as 95, 90, 85 etc. The passing average in each subject is 70. An average below 70 is indicated by F."
School subjects we took from 1st to 8th grade included the following:
- Religion
- English (further broken down into Oral, Written, Reading, and Spelling)
- Social Studies (further broken down into History, Geography and Civics)
- Arithmetic
- Science
- Handwriting
- Art
- Music
- Health Education
- Thoroughness in Daily Work
- Attention During Class
- Home Study
Record of Attendance
A precise number record was kept of the time each student was present (showed up for school), absent or late.
My F from Sister James Ines in Grade 5
One day I raised my hand over and over and said "Sister...Sister...Sister..." because my bladder was bursting under the pressure of too much water and I needed to get to the boys room.Sister Ines was writing at the board, turned, saw me desperately raising my hand, and ignored me.
I continued to wave my hand frantically saying "Sister...Sister...Sister..." but she kept writing, turning to explain the lesson, and ignored me.
Thinking, correctly, that peeing my pants in 5th grade would haunt me for years, I got myself up, left the room, and went to the boys room to sweet relief.
Unfortunately, Sister Ines did not see it that way.
She actually came into the boys room, grabbed me by the collar, and dragged me down to Mother Superior, Mother Mary Siena.
I was terrified, or course.
Both upbraided me for being a "bold article."
And Sister Ines assured me that there would be "consequences."
She was true to her word.
The F you see recorded in my 2nd semester in 5th grade under Cooperation was the consequence.On the original report card you see she erased a D minus and made it an F.
She would have no noncooperation in her class.
The story does not end there.
When I was going through my background investigation for the United States Air Force, the F was duly noted.
The investigators wanted to know why I had mostly A's and then a sudden F.
When I explained the reason, they laughed and dismissed me.
The Meaning of Citizenship, Character, and Health, School Subjects, and Real Grades
Sadly, the disciple of grades has been lost in the United States, but not in other nations who maintain them and what they mean.We have abandoned them at our peril.
We are derelict in our duty when we give young people passing grades they have not earned.
We deny them a future because we deny them reality.
Sometimes behavior deserves an F, even when it is not "fair."
Life is not fair.
The sooner known the happier the life.
