The Houston School Board of Trustees made a decision at their last meeting to return teachers to their true professions - teaching.

With the policy change of no cell phones used on campus, they will allow educators the opportunity to return to the first and foremost goal of educating students.

Aside from the potential litigation possibilities of cell and/or camera phones on campus, the reasoning is basic, tried, true and tested.

Educators teach best with the least distractions. Period, paragraph, end of story.

Our educational system has proved it over and over.

When our educational system moved teachers out of one-room school houses into age-level classrooms, our children gained.

When our educational leaders fought for classes to promote skills and individual abilities as opposed to rote memorization and allowed them the opportunity to learn against the norm, we all gained a in a workforce.

Everyone wants their child or children to have every opportunity for success - but in an educational setting phone calls, texting and photography have proved to be a distraction if not a nuisance.

Teachers have enough responsibility on a daily basis without policing students for electronic equipment.

It is hoped that the new policy banning cell phones from campus will allow teachers to return to their goals of educating students and allow students to direct their attention toward learning.

Love your neighbor

As Halloween draws near, pranksters and practical jokers are predicted to be on the loose. Many residents don't mind a little revelry if it comes in the name of fun, but "ghouls" are cautioned to use common sense and civility.

A little toilet paper in the trees may not be destructive, but to older persons it can be a nuisance that they are unable to remove.

Destruction or damage to personal property is never in season, nor is it a joke.

Make sure you know your "victim" and that they will not mind being pranked before engaging in activity that could cause bad feelings in the community.

When in doubt, don't.