Educators (which includes parents) have a number of tools at their disposal, including lectures, book-reading, apprentiseships, and so on. Just because something is old doesn't necesarily mean it's become irrelevant.
There are many schools that currently have been trying alternative approaches to education, and failing. It really depends on the student's learning style, the material being covered, the developmental age of the student, the environment, and so on....
I'm thinking more on the lines of adult education, i.e., beyond secondary school. The problems you've mentioned are generally associated with bad self-discipline and poor reading skills.