That lesson is going to serve them well in the workplace.
Teach students that they are entitled to bad behavior, bad work habits, and deadlines? Fuck deadlines
The next generation is going to have a hard time competing in the global workplace against cultures that do enforce reasonable consequences for fucking up.
I think what school fails to do is teach the difference between internal motivation and external motivation. Mandated homework is external motivation for those who don't get it, and for those who do the mandate isn't necessary.