Sometimes, in order to understand the present, we have to look backwards but live it forwards. Sounds quite profound. If wrongs are committed, it’s rare that we can relive the past. We have to move forward.

What’s great about yearbooks is that we can view the past in the present and then improve how our methods of presenting messages are constantly renewed and improved. Give your yearbookers an inch and they will give you a product that is outstanding. Where should I begin? After 30+ years of being an adviser and actually publishing 32 books over my career, this could be the most difficult assignment for me.

Ever hear the following words and terms: Triplicates, scale-o-graph, wax pencils, mailing boxes, nightmares, deadlines, deadlines and more deadlines? Black and white deadlines and separate color deadlines. 

I think that the best thing about our job is how each yearbook we produce is more creative and a true historical wonder. Sure we repeat some of the layout ideas; but, with all of the changes in production and with the advent of better and better computer programs and techniques it all falls into place.

We all know that the yearbook is a memory book but it also is the only history that presents the happenings of the year. Back in 1980, computers were in their infancy and we weren’t ready for that invention to even exist and frequently we used the time honored “Underwood” typewriter that Andy Rooney used during his segment on “60 minutes”. It sat there on his desk!

We also had to use very important tools: a ruler and a scale-o-graph.

This was the tool which we used to make sure that a picture would “fit” in a given space. Yearbook students had to use wax pencils on pictures to indicate the information that they wanted the plant to use for a specific space on the layout sheets. So this was their first introduction into learning how to enlarge or reduce a picture using the tool and also a wax pencil.

Pictures had stickers on the back and were coordinated with information on the layouts. Sound confusing? Well, we at least taught students that a horizontal picture would NOT fit into a vertical space. They even had to use the scale-o-graph fo accomplish this task. It was a tool which used two right hand angles and you could scale pictures to fit into these spaces. The bottom line was that they learned that if you reduced or enlarged a photo both vertical and horizontal images would change. Students could use a pen or pencil to indicate where a picture would be placed and size the picture properly.

There were no programs that would collate information for the index.

We had to use index cards and go page by page and circle the page numbers where a student ‘s picture or name appeared on each card. It was fun, really. They even learned how to use a ruler.

I will never forget two happenings that could have made a newbie adviser want to never advise a yearbook ever again. Here goes: we used to send all materials in a box to Walsworth in Missouri and pray that the box with the items would be received by the company. What was in each box you ask…layouts, copy sheets, pictures (the hard copies) and sheets indicating what pages were enclosed. The postal service lost one my fifth year’s…1985….deadline pages. Another time, at the beginning of 2000, one of the students lost the box…told us she sent it and, well…heart attack city.

But, we can learn from the past events. Layout design has evolved but some of the same guidelines exist. We still use the words: pica, typesize and spelling. The difference is that the programs can take the information and the students can create wonders. The bottom line is that we all have our horror stories…use them to improve each year’s “history of the year.”

Enough with the past. Let’s move to the present. The class lessons that I enjoy teaching the most involve teaching the concept of THEME. Without a theme you risk creating a book that is just lots of pictures but are confusing because there is no “major concept” tying the book together.

Something like an Algebra textbook. You will not find Latin in the text unless it deals with Algebra. The theme is no different. From this starting point your students have to decide how the book will be organized. What sections will be covered in the book and how many pages should be allotted to each section. Use older yearbooks from your school and others.

Also, the newest concept is creating a chronological book. You still need to teach theme and be aware because most yearbookers write about the theme in all of their copy. Your copyeditors and you have to watch for these redundancies.

We are lucky to have Melissa Falkowski on board at Walsworth working with Veronika because she is the expert when it comes to chronological style. Make sure that when you come to the August workshop you pick her brain if you want to create this chronological wonder.

Each spread should incorporate a story. Writing? Yup. And you have to be concerned about which typefaces to use, past tense versus present tense. And the best part of working with your students to create this annual wonder….is to see them smile. It happens annually when your masterpiece is delivered. Your students created this wonder with your guidance. You, the adviser, have created a history and memory book of the year. This is the only publication that will be shared, signed and brought to each class reunion.

The smile is worth a thousand words.

I completed my first yearbook for Dillard High in 1980 with Tom Barnard as the rep for Walsworth. I also joined, and so should you, the Florida Scholastic Press Association(FSPA) and attempted to win an award for our masterpiece. There is a Fall Workshop and also a Spring convention in Orlando. Students and you will meet students and advisers from around the State and you will learn great techniques to make your book special and creative.

I will never ever regret all of the sleepless nights, spell checking over and over and more. You can never redo any of your annual productions, but you can use what you have learned to improve and create the book of books for your school. We definitely have the best job…harnessing the imagination of up to 30 brains: Creating a history of the year and a total book of memories.

Thanks for being a yearbook adviser. Steven Jay Thor

Steven Jay Thor finally retired from the Broward School Board on June 30, 2012.  Accolades include: 37 1/2 years teaching in Broward, 6 years in New York City, Yearbook Adviser for 32 years, President of the Florida Scholastic Press Association, Named Journalism  Teacher of the Year for the State of Florida in 2012, District 7 FSPA District Director for 28 years awarded DOW Jones “Journalism Achievement Award Certificate of Merit and more.