Dear Heloise: I am responding to the letter from M.W., who complained about our educational system:

The biggest problem I have with my students are cellphones. I really believe that cellphones aren’t needed in a classroom during school hours. If there is an emergency at home, parents can call the main office, then the staff can contact the student.

The way things are now, I have to take cellphones away from students or send them to the principal’s office if they refuse to hand the phones over. I’ve had students who feel it’s their right to keep their phone turned on so that they can call their boyfriend or girlfriend. Or they feel like it’s hilarious to disrupt the class by talking loudly about all the details of last night’s date.

I blame parents for not exercising enough authority and discipline at home. Please believe me when I say that a good education will be far more important than a cellphone. A phone is no longer a status symbol, but a degree from a good college impresses employers.

If your child learns nothing in class, how do you think they’ll do in college? On average, 28% of college students drop out of college because they are unprepared or ill-equipped to handle the academic pressures of university-level learning. Think about it. — Diane D., in Tennessee

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Heloise@Heloise.com

EARTHQUAKE SAFETY

Dear Heloise: Out here in California, we have earthquakes and little tremors all the time. I’ve heard that standing in a doorway is the safest place, but I’ve also heard that it’s not. Since I’ve only been in San Francisco about six months, I’m not really sure what to do if we are hit with an earthquake. What should I do? — Jack F., in San Francisco

Jack, during an earthquake, you should stay away from windows. Don’t stand in a doorway. Both are considered weak spots. If at all possible, get under a desk or table, drop down, and cover the back of your neck and/or head. Then stay there until it’s all over. If you are not in a place that has a sturdy cover, just drop down, cover your head, and hold on. Do the best you can to protect yourself from falling objects or flying debris. — Heloise

THE WORD GAME

Dear Heloise: My dad and I used to play a game at dinnertime that we called “the word game.”

My dad would ask, “What’s the word of the day?” I could pick out any word from the dictionary, but I had to spell it, give the meaning, and use it in a sentence. I never knew when he would ask me this question, so I always had to be prepared with a word. We did this about three or four times a week, and it was fun.

By the age of 9, my teachers were amazed by my vocabulary. I played this same game with my two daughters and now my grandchildren. They love it! — Loretta E., Provo, Utah

REUSING PLASTIC

Dear Heloise: The 4-ounce plastic containers from gelatin, pudding and applesauce are great to use as measuring cups. I keep canisters full of flour, sugar, cornmeal and coffee. They work well in an oatmeal carton and with powdered laundry products. They are also wonderful for holding paint for crafts.

The rectangular plastic containers that shortening sticks come in are excellent for keeping small medicine or nail polish bottles neat and upright. — J.M., via email