Well, it would be interesting to see a positive model of the good situation that the complaints notice the lack of, which is pretty vague in the thread of discussion. It seems to be aristocratic rather than liberal -- that is, the students are supposed to be earnest submissives rather than eager consumer-participants -- because in the second case the eager consumer is supposed to be led on by the product and its marketing, not by authority and its trappings.
Overarching all, of course, is the structure of the society in general and the specific functions of the academic system within it. How does the latter serve the ruling class of the former, and what reforms can be expected in that context which will lead toward the good situation?
These questions should be answered before flogging dumb students too much. The students are almost certainly responding to the demands of their environment, rather then choosing out of malicious free will to be dumb.