[skinkestek]

Because 50 years ago:

- teachers had a lot more options when it came to disciplining kids

- many left school for work at age 15 - 16

Do you want the good old times back?

(Another thing is many countries have changed the curriculum to be even more heavy on theory than it used to be. That I would like to change, both for the kids and for future employers: broad practical experience probably increases someones chances in engineering and probably other disciplines as well.)