function getElement(elem) {
    var theElement = document.getElementById(elem);
    return theElement;
  }

  function label(element,labelText){
    var theElement = getElement(element);
    if (theElement.value == labelText){
      theElement.value = '';
    }
    else if (theElement.value == ''){
      theElement.value = labelText;
    }
  }