In some ways, it's appeasement.
As student's attention-spans decrease with every decade, they become more uncontrollable. They can't think about one thing for a whole hour.
So the teachers appease them with son et lumiere.
Same thing with the 'mental mapping' business, which Rush explored (re: Bongo Bennish) -- this is sort of pawing sweetly over your student's prejudices to find out what they 'think' about an area before giving them the info.
It appeases them, flatters them.
I don't know when or how things are going to change given our limp, media-frightened Republicans but if we don't change it our enemies will change it for us.
I was lamenting to my kid a few days ago about the difference between todays' hign schools and when I went to school.
When I went, the teachers didn't care what you thought, they just wanted you to behave, do the work, participate, and do your best. Now, they want to psychoanalyze any kid who appears to be different from the rest of the group think in the class (usually translated to agreeing with the teacher).