One of the most difficult challenges teachers and parents face is getting teens to do homework. A common complaint among high school students is that they don't have enough time to do homework. In 2000, American students hold more jobs, take on more household responsibilities, and participate in more extracurricular activities than any other generation of American students. (Homework: is it time to turn it in?). As more and more distractions are made available to American teenagers, it is vital that today's students are aware of the importance of doing their homework. Homework is a necessary component of every successful student's education. By doing homework, a student will learn independent thinking, perform better in school, and have a greater chance of economic success in post-education life. To be successful, students must become responsible for their own education. In a secondary school setting, students spend less than five hours of instruction per week in a given subject. During this time, the teacher introduces new concepts and skills building on previous lessons. In order for students to become proficient with these newly taught concepts and skills, they must practice and work on these skills, so that they can be ingrained in the student's mind. In order for this learning to take place, the U.S. Department of Education suggests that students use homework...