DR. WALLACE: I'm in the ninth grade and a good student. I must be intelligent because I've gotten good grades ever since I started school. Both of my parents are college graduates. Mom is a teacher and Dad is a chemist. And, of course, I'm also going to attend college.

When I was in grade school, my parents made me study from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. That was ample time to complete all my assignments. Now that I'm in high school (they think high school grades are more important), my study time is set from 7 to 9:30 p.m. That means no television or telephone calls. I can only leave my room to use the bathroom or to get a drink or a snack. Because I have to be in bed by 10 p.m., I only have 30 minutes to talk to a friend by phone or watch television.

When I complain, I'm told that I'll be glad later on that I had such strict "home study regulations." Sometimes I finish my homework in an hour, but I can't leave my room until 9:30. I know I will never become a criminal because I realize how terrible it would feel to be in prison.

I know that you are a former educator. Don't you think my set study time is outrageous? I hope so, since both of my parents usually agree with your advice. — Trish, Springfield, Mass.

TRISH: Good study habits are essential for success in school, especially at the college level, when you'll be on your own. However, your parents are overdoing it, and it seems to me you will NOT be happy later for having been confined to your room pointlessly for long periods of time, even after you've finished your homework.

A study time should not feel like prison time! If it does, your parents' initiative could boomerang and make you hate the learning process.

Acquiring a solid education is not all fun and games, but neither is it all tedium and drudgery. Rather than "home study regulations," I prefer the "do all your homework effectively" program, which includes spending 10 to 15 minutes discussing the day's work with one or both parents.

Mom and Dad obviously want what's best for you, and have great hopes for your future, but I'm afraid their inflexible regulations could wind up undermining those hopes.

U.S. AND CANADA HAVE LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF SMOKERS

DR. WALLACE: I'm doing a research paper on smoking and its effect on both the smoker and those who breathe the secondhand smoke.

I spent one month in Ireland this past summer on a college-sponsored program. I lived with a family in Galway and it was a wonderful experience. My only problem was that the father and the oldest son smoked, as did many Irish citizens.

How does the United States stack up with the rest of the world (especially Ireland) in per-capita smoking? — Kay, Palo Alto, Calif.

KAY: The United States and Canada are very active about public health and safety. In both countries, the percentage of smokers is on the decline. Smoking, however, is increasing worldwide at the rate of 2 percent a year, according to the American Cancer Society. Greece has the highest percentage of smokers, followed by Japan, Poland, South Korea and Ireland. The U.S. and Canada have the lowest percentage of smokers.

Here in the United States and in Canada, I am happy to say that smoking is on a steady decline. The American Cancer Society credits this phenomenon to the massive publicity given to the health hazards both of smoking and breathing secondhand smoke. Strict smoking regulations, in both the U.S. and Canada, along with the skyrocketing cost of cigarettes, have also fueled the downturn.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.