The school yearbook is a great way to capture moments in time. The world will never be the same as it is at the time of publication and a yearbook helps to preserve those experiences. With the rise of social media and other digital platforms, however, many wonder if the tradition of the school yearbook is still relevant. Yearbooks have endured the test of time since their inception as a scrapbook back in the 17th century. No matter the time period, these books are still important and relevant even in today’s digital age. Reading books is a habit that is enjoyed by many people across the world. People who like horror stories can check the scariest books that they can read. Let’s take a look at the importance of school yearbooks.
Tradition
From elementary schools to high school and college, the yearbook is a beloved tradition across many levels of education. The book captures the moments and memories that made the school year special and unique. It’s a part of the school experience, no matter what grade or level of education. At the end of each year, the yearbook serves as the culmination of all of the events, accomplishments, and experiences. Students love flipping through the pages and reminiscing over what happened at the homecoming dance or the big football victory. Through well-crafted photos and stories, the book serves as a time capsule preserving the story of each school year. The yearbook is a tradition that enriches the school year and creates a sense of community.
History
One of the primary functions of the school yearbook is to serve as a record that details the history and story of the year. Since the time of the first yearbook in the 17th century, these books have been a historical document detailing the people and events for each school year. The book is an important tradition that helps people remember stories and people. When you go back and look at a yearbook collection with numerous books, you will find primary sources that detail schools and experiences during major events like the Great Depression, two world wars, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Cold War. They serve as a first-hand testimony to some of the events that changed the world.
When you consider the situation in schools today, the COVID-19 pandemic has completely upended life and changed the high school experience. When you think about remote learning, mask mandates, social distancing, vaccines, and other precautions, the last few school years have had several new stories to tell. Decades from now, people will look at the books from 2020 and 2021 with awe and amazement at the things that students had to endure. The high school yearbooks from this time period will reveal a group of students and teachers who had to thrive during very difficult circumstances. The yearbook program is important for documenting history.
Opportunity
A yearbook is much more than just a picture book. It’s a reference book that serves as an important historical record. However, perhaps most important is that it is an opportunity to tell a story and share the journey. A school is made up of many unique personalities and characters. From the teacher who is also in a rock band to the student that went viral on TikTok, there are numerous perspectives and experiences. The book serves as an opportunity to highlight different stories. Years down the line, high school yearbooks stand out as catalogs preserving the stories of future Presidents, scientists, doctors, lawyers, actors, and others. The school book is an important collection of stories.
While great yearbook designs are important for creating a quality product, more important is the preservation of the school name, stories, and experiences that are contained in the book. From high school yearbooks to college annuals, these books serve as important tools for telling stories and recording history.
