16-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Monday, February 26, 1912: Went through the snow to school this morning and came home through the rain. One good things I didn’t have to walk this evening. Received my report card today. I knew what my marks were for I had caught a glimpse of them some time previous. Mine has the downward tendency this month. 
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
How did Grandma know what her grades were going to be prior to receiving the report card? Was she again snooping around the teacher’s desk?
Grandma’s teacher caught her cheating in late January—and she did not cheat when she took her tests in February. It’s too bad that her grades didn’t reflect her better behavior—though I suppose they more accurately reflected what she knew.
I was hoping they went up. Oh well, there’s always next time. Perhaps she’ll work harder with the new teacher .
I also was hoping they’d go up–or at least stay the same. It will be interesting to see how things go with the new teacher.
It seems being sixteen was never easy – so much to learn ethically and intellectually! Interesting your grandmother didn’t record for future reference just what those grades were…
I often wish that she’d included more detail. Sometimes I wish that she had had ESP and had known that those who came after her would read the diary many years later–but then I realize that some of the authenticity would be lost and that what I really enjoy is how her thoughts spill onto the page.
I hope she does better the next go around.
I agree!
And she’d worked so hard too…she must have felt frustrated.
You’re right–sometimes hard work isn’t rewarded. Now in my ideal world. . . .