Back then teachers focused on teaching academics instead of social conditioning. When I was in school it was hard to get a perfect mark on anything. You would get marked down a point for every spelling and punctuation mistake, back when the only spell check was your own proof reading and hard copy dictionary for reference. You had to write it all by hand, no backspace or delete. If you made a mistake you had to write it all out again. Today a kid gets bonus points for handing an assignment in on time. Even with the spellcheck and other tools, kids can't compose anything coherent and correctly written anymore. Serious misbehavior used to get you the strap or suspended, and then the parents would beat your ass when you got home. There used to be consequences to actions and bad attitude. Kids today don't learn cause and effect, there are no consequences, just coddling.