The article is a very good read. He puts the blame at the base (elementary schools) of the educational structure. Rather than pushing kids toward a stronger enthusiasm for yiddishkiet, it slides kids toward being a part of the culture that they are being exposed to.
I think this is true (almost) everywhere. Just in the more charedi communities, the culture is more yiddish. Rather than creating a greater enthusiasm for Torah and Mitzvos, it turns our culture into a mitzvah. Educating kids to be passionate about the giyus, the internet,kashrus organizations, and shirt color, also leads to the conclusion that if there is no social activity than there is no value to the devotional aspects of yiddishkiet alone. It just provides a better cover for the lack of enthusiasm for authentic Judaism.