Hmm
I was at primary school in the 60s, secondary in the 70s. I think then there was more personal responsibility, however, at primary our lunch was served on China plates with knives and forks and we had beakers and water available at the table. We learnt not to spill the water and put our knives and forks together nicely, most of us could anyway.
At secondary we had allocated lunch tables and each year the 6th formers left and the first formers joined. Tables had 8 people on them from different years. We had to forge relationships and get along. The two eldest queued with trays to take back to the table enough food for 8, which they served like "mother".
At primary we were taught how to write a letter and address an envelope. At secondary our head took us for one period a week in what was nominally RE. She told us also about paying bills, abusive men, careful choices, getting pregnant, etc.
Those were valuable experiences, school delivered them as part of normal life. With polystyrene boxes and plastic cutlery much has been lost. I do think those who run schools are largely culpable but in my view we have turned into a nation that values multiple, often worthless qualifications at the expense of a broad education.
All my teachers seemed able to write well and appeared very well educated. My children are now in their late 20s and their teachers did not and I would have had little faith in them teaching table manners.
OTH we ate sweets in the playground, had little or no homework at primary and drinking water was in short supply.
Personally I believe something has gone wrong somewhere but that more state won't help because the standards of a modern state just won't cut it.
Twenty to twenty five years ago, however, I don't recall any 3 to 4 year olds starting school in nappies and I just don't understand what has gone on there. Nurseries for 2.5 and up were draconian in their expectations, rightly or wrongly.