DR. WALLACE: Our 17-year-old son is an academically brilliant young man, but he was running with some bad guy and got himself in trouble with the law. My husband and I are separated and he is living in California with his girlfriend. He agreed to have our son move in with him and give him some discipline.

Our son has been there for three months and while he enjoys California and his school, he doesn't like living with his father and wants to return to Illinois. He says that he will behave and concentrate on his studies if I will let him return. I have full custody of our son, so where he lives is up to me.

Your opinion will be appreciated. If he returns to Illinois, he will attend the University of Illinois. If he stays in California, he will attend the UCLA. — Mother, Naperville, Ill.

MOTHER: It's apparent that your son's father is being strict with his son and the young man likes his former life style. I know that you love your son and want the very best for him. It's my belief that his best chance for him to gain success and be an honorable future citizen is for him to remain living with his father.

Attending school in California will insure that your son's prior "bad boy" friends cannot tempt him to resume his troubling behavior.

TEACHERS ARE NOT PAID DURING SUMMER BREAK

DR. WALLACE: Our teachers are considering going on strike to get more money. I honestly believe that most of them are already overpaid. Tell me another job where the worker gets paid for being on summer vacation for almost three months. Give me a break!

When teachers get more money, I have to fund their raise by paying higher taxes. - Todd, Chicago, Ill.

TODD: Teachers don't get paid for the summer months. They also do not get paid for holidays. Teachers receive no paid holidays. They sign a contract for the certain number of teaching days (about 180 per school year) and are paid accordingly.

If a teacher signs a contract for $45,000 for a year, the teacher can choose to receive $4,500 a month for ten months, or $3,750 a month for twelve months.

When compared to other professions, teacher's salaries rank near the bottom. They deserve better! Unfortunately, teachers' salaries are dependent on local taxes.

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. E-mail him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. 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.