Chinuch Q and A

In 2002 I asked a rabbi who was involved with "fringe kids" long before it became popular:

Could you please give me a quickie answer, as to what you think the main reason is that frum kids go off the derech?

And if you wouldn't mind, could you tell me:
80 or 90% (or whatever it is) go off because of -------
and the remainder go off because of ----------

His response:

80 or 90% (or whatever it is) go off because of lack of reasons to keep them on the derech, in the face of what should be resistable living pressures, usually doemstic conflict, usually between the kid and the parents, if not, then between the parents themselves. And the remainder go off because of the same thing.

to which I said:

Are you saying then, that the REAL reason is the lack of a reason to stay frum, but IF you have a supportive, wonderful family life, you stay frum ANYWAY?

Did I understand you correctly?

If I did, why is the lack of a reason to remain frum present today more than 100 or 200 years ago? Aren't we basically teaching the same stuff, not just the Chumash and Gemara, but the same chinuch pretty much, as always?

to be continued