Because:
1. Curricula no longer have fact drills as their core methodology, or even priority.
2. Teachers have been stripped of the power to enforce any meaningful degree of discipline.
2. Teachers have been stripped of the power to enforce any meaningful degree of discipline.
Of these two sad-but-true facts, I'd be inclined to say number 2 is the most relevent.
I was in one of the first classes in our area to experiment with forced busing. The school I attended regularly delayed classes to accomodate fights in the halls. But after the fight, the participants were not seen in class again for a week, if they were allowed back in at all.
The atmosphere was, to say the least, interesting. But at that school, I had the best English teacher I have ever had in my entire life. I also managed to learn algebra, a fair amount of biology, and how to make an acceptable tuna casserole.
The classes were huge (35 - 40 students), the building was over 100 years old, but the textbooks and materials were all up to date. The library was well stocked, and students were allowed to borrow up to three books at a time.
Students were removed from class if they were disruptive. I have no idea what went on in the Principal's office, since I was too chicken to find out. Most of the other students felt that way as well. The select few who felt the need to push the envelope got the opportunity to do that three times before expulsion. Where they went after that, I don't know. But the kids who remained were better off without them.