As in the city last week, some county school principals orpopular children’s parents may wake up Monday morning to find somenew, shall we say, decorations in their yards.

The annual pranks on the night before the first day of schoolusually represent some harmless fun by the culprits. Parents,though, should discourage their children from doing anything thatcauses serious damage.

Victims of the good-natured brand of fun may want to feelhonored to be selected. They should view the achievement with agood sense of humor – especially during clean up.

Seriously, though, the new school year begins in earnest Mondaywith the city and county schools and Brookhaven Academy all back insession.

That means more people on the road going to and from school.

As transportation officials are fond of saying, school buses arecarrying the most precious cargo in the world. Motorists should bealert for the frequent bus stops and around school crossings.

A few extra moments of caution in the mornings and afternoonshelps in producing a safe and accident-free school year.