re: I had a hunch you were comparing us to UK
When I was young, there were *no* cases of kids misbehaving like those in this story. I strongly suspect that the system in those days was no more able to handle an onslaught like this, than the system that now exists.
There have ALWAYS been punks, although maybe not on the same level. Anyone remember "The Blackboard Jungle?"
Your statement brings up an important issue of cause and effect. Did thugs suddenly appear, and the old school organization became incapable of handling it? Or did the way we run schools and society change, and the new "improved" thugs are the result?