Nah, the education system has become lopsided in favor of the student. Standards are lower than ever and we're still afraid to fail kids. Even though they show no motivation, pay no attention, don't do homework, and do shitty work, all they have to do is whine and complain and tear up and parents are all up in the school to see what's wrong with the teacher.
No Child Left Behind has only worked in a select few cases and in other it puts pressure on a lot of teachers who aren't doing anything wrong and don't get any support whatsoever.
Way back in grade school and middle school, I didn't think I was smart, just normal. Until compared to the other kids. School is easy. We just have a shitton of priveleged kids who don't give a damn and get a grade curve for tests after they all fail miserably.