Cindy Koontz

Cindy Koontz

My document is my grandmother's grade school report card. I remember her telling me that girls only attended school up to sixth grade. This is her fourth grade report card. The date on this is 1915. She married at age 16 two years later.

I was a sophomore in high school when my grandmother was placed in a nursing home. I went to clean her personal belongings from her home. While packing up all the documents in her desk, I came across her grade school report card.

I had never been all that interested in history up to this point. I found it tiresome to memorize all the dates that it required. I was in World History, and the teacher was more interested in relating the history he was teaching with current events if possible.

When I found my grandmother's report card I noticed the date on it, and this was really the first time that I could really put the history that I was being taught into some perspective. I asked my parents what year she was born. I learned that she was born in 1901 and that my grandfather was born in 1898. I really wished that I could ask her what her childhood was like. I imagine all the things that she saw come into existence throughout her lifetime.

I really started to enjoy history from this point forward as it was no longer something that happened so far in the past that could have no possible relevance to me. Part of this new found love was the enlightenment of time and also the great story telling aspect that Mr. Gallup as a new teacher brought to the class room. I do not know if I would have ever gained such a love of history if I was not able to make this time connection.

Koontz, Cindy

2013-03-11