I was given the first one in mid-October of 1945.

There would be six of them per year for the next 12 years – 72 in all by the time I graduated from high school in 1957.

Each was a potential source of strong emotions ranging from simple anxiety up to, and sometimes including, dread. That’s the way it was with Report Cards many years ago. Some things about “growing up” never change I suspect, including Report Cards and our reactions to them.

These recollections began to cross my mind several days ago when a Facebook posting from our daughter announced with justifiable pride that our grandson had received a report card with “all A’s and one B+.” There was even an iPhone picture of the grades themselves.

As I read her posting with pride for what son William was accomplishing at school, my thoughts reconnected with a similar period at school when I was about his age.

Surprisingly, after rummaging through the remnants of a scrapbook more than half a century old, I located the “Individual Progress Report” (read: report card) issued by the elementary schools of Duval County, Jacksonville, Florida – W. Daniel Boyd, Superintendent.

The period of this progress report began on September 5, 1950 and ended June 6, 1951, at which time I was to be assigned to the elevated status of a 7th Grader – assuming I survived the rigorous program of instruction awaiting me during grade six.

The Principal at that time was Robert R. Brickey, who I remember was very keen on the athletics program.