What Are the Benefits of a Yearbook?

Yearbooks document your school experience.

To better remember and document your school experience, most education institutions publish a yearbook. Schools both public and private have traditionally created yearbooks for and with the direct involvement of the student body. Flip through your yearbook as an adult and you are instantly transported back to your younger days. With recent fiscal worries and technology changes, schools and individuals are questioning the benefits of a yearbook. However, the production and existence of a yearbook can be beneficial for both the student and the school he attends.

Personal Growth

Yearbook photos create nostalgia.

Whether you look back at your yearbooks with fond nostalgia or sheer embarrassment, that yearbook preserves your past. It is this book compiling photos of students and teachers, academics and activities that documents a particular year of your life. Each student is represented by his portrait. These portraits are taken professionally and document a child's looks, growth and development throughout his years. Your physical changes are charted by your portrait for years to come. The purchase of your portraiture makes a deeply touching gift when presented to parents, grandparents, family and friends.

Individual Achievement

School involvement is rewarded and captured in photos.

Each student is photographed not only with a portrait, but also by placement in group shots of sports teams, music groups and student activities. All diverse sectors of the student population are represented. Students write, draw and create their own yearbook material. Faculty advisers can then shape and guide students through the process before publishing. Yearbook club is often a class or extracurricular activity mixing photography and journalism.

School Pride

An entire student body can join together in the creation and distribution of the yearbooks. All students, faculty and staff have the chance to be immortalized in photography and captions. The presentation of the yearbooks at the end of the academic year gives the entire school a sense of closure and completion. The yearly unveiling of the yearbooks can be a cause for school celebration and pride.

Community Involvement

Another benefit of the yearbook is the ability to bring the school and community together in a joint project. Budget cuts are eroding funding previously allotted to yearbooks for elementary, middle, high school and even colleges in the public and private sector. Counteract this by selling advertising space to local businesses to raise revenue. Increase additional funding by sale of "boosters" to individuals for increased project funding. During school functions and banquets, mention individuals and groups who have donated to thank them for their kindness.

Technology

Electronic yearbooks are increasingly popular.

Instead of abandoning the yearbook concept, many schools are embracing technology and social media. On line companies now feature an electronic yearbook option. Here students can create and personalize their digital yearbooks and pages. Many of these companies offer an option to order copies the old fashioned way -- bound and on paper. Students can choose either a traditional hardcover yearbook or a more economical paperback version.

Sharing

Yearbooks bring generations together.

Looking through your school yearbook is a cherished experience between parent and child. Memories of academic triumphs and youthful activities are shared and explored between generations. Autographs and photographs from fellow students and teachers are captured forever. The benefits of a yearbook will only increase in sentimental value as you get older and can share your memories with your growing family.

References

• CNN Money; Death of the Old School Yearbook; Blake Ellis; June 2011
• Walsworth Yearbooks; Make Them Want It; David Roth
• School Annual; 10 Reasons Every Student Should Have a Yearbook; Nancy Stone; February 2011