Dear Heloise: I just read the Letter from C. L. in Indiana about displaying her little heirloom dresses. It’s a lovely idea, but the straight pins are likely to rust over time and damage the dresses. She should check with an archivist at a local museum to see if there is a safer way to preserve and display her treasures. — M. L. in New Hampshire

M.L., that’s a very good idea. I’ve received many letters from people over the years who have accidentally ruined a family heirloom in their attempt to preserve it for future generations. Most pins will rust in time, and rust stains are always hard or impossible to remove. — Heloise

YES TO SCHOOL BREAKS

Dear Heloise: Winter and spring breaks are very much needed in schools these day. Students spend every weekday in class and have homework at night and on the weekends. There is a lot of burnout for both students and teachers, so a break does a lot of good.

They can also use breaks to further their education in a lot of other ways with travel, athletics, hobbies, time with family, and social interaction with the rest of society. Not all learning should be school-based.

I was a teacher for 30 years, and when May comes around, students, especially in high-level and AP classes, need the breaks, as well as time during the summer to wind down before their next challenges. Learning and teaching in school is completely different from being employed at a job. You are constantly fed information every day, as well as after school and weekends.

I also taught year-round, which gave students a month-long break after three months of nonstop classes. I thought this was the best strategy. — J., via email

J., we received a number of letters both for and against winter and spring breaks. One reader pointed out that many of us did not have these holidays. I’ve included their letter below. — Heloise

NO TO SCHOOL BREAKS

Dear Heloise: We don’t need winter and spring breaks. There are holidays within the school year and weekends where students can relax and recharge their batteries, so to speak. With failing grades and other nations outpacing us in math, science and other subjects, I just can’t see how having winter and spring breaks makes any sense.

Generations before us didn’t have the luxury of these holidays, yet we managed to build one of the finest nations on earth. As we head toward the future, an education will be vital to succeed in our chosen field of work. I’m all for eliminating winter and spring breaks and keeping students in class until 4 p.m. — A Parent and Teacher in Wichita, Kansas

SCUFFED SANDALS

Dear Heloise: I had a pair of pink sandals that I loved. They were in good condition, except for some scuffs on the heel that took off the leather. I hated the idea of gettting rid of them, so I got out my pink nail polish and painted over the scuff marks. They look good as new! — C.B., in California

A COUPLE OF REMINDERS

Dear Readers: Autumn is an excellent time to plant a tree in warmer states where they rarely have snow. In states where snow is almost guaranteed, the springtime is definitely a better time to plant.

And let’s remember that it’s still warm outside in parts of the country, so make sure to bring your pets inside on extremely hot days. — Heloise

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Hints from Heloise run occasionally in Lifestyles. Readers may send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE, or email: Heloise@Heloise.com. Letters won’t be answered personally.