my son is smart but failing HS?

I'm in this situation also right now, except that I'm the teen in high school. I know that the reason I'm having problems is because I'm tired all the time. Make sure he's getting enouhg rest, and don't take the computer from him, just restrict how much time he gets on it per day and maybe send his teachers e mails and get updates on his school work once a month or so... until the problem is fixed you might even have to check his homework at the end of the night so you can physically see that it's done. That's what my parents did and it helped me substantially.

Hi,

The solution might be to remove the computer until he shows you his completed work each evening.

The alternative is to explain to him that if he wants to have any kind of a decent life-style when he is older, he must use the time now wisely. If his grades slip then he will be the author of his own laziness and he will not be able to advance his career through high-school, college and university. This of course is fine if he is happy to settle for mediocre jobs that will bore him to tears and pay a pittance.

Employers are fussy about the educational standards of their employees and will not hire someone with a low level education when they have the pick of more educated applicants.

This too might help. In Yahoo Answers you will find many examples of students who are lagging behind, who can't structure a sentence, who have poor grammar, who can't spell or construct a sentence - copy and paste all these examples into WORD and print out a copy or copies and ask your son if that is the way he wants to go.

He will have to be able to apply in writing for most jobs and if his literacy lets him down, then his career opportunities will be very limited. Virtually every day I see requests for help from students in Yahoo Answers because their grades are slipping and with exam/test time approaching they are now panicking! Some are so bad that they unashamedly ask those who respond to Yahoo Answers to do their homework for them!

It is sad that parents have to resort to all kinds of ways to encourage their children to do what they know is best and yet their children don't really appreciate all the sacrifices that we make for our children. I really wish I knew what else to say that might help you - show him this letter and see what his reaction is.

Best wishes for a successful outcome.