Pity that you can't go back in time! As one that learnt in the '60's it is my view that training standards are not as good as they used to be, with perhaps some exceptions. A statement made by an experienced instructor some 25 years ago went like this: "someone passing a private today, would not have passed a commercial a decade ago". And I don't believe it has got any better since!
In days gone by there were many country flying schools and aero clubs, some with only one instructor and the standards were excellent. Many have now vanished due to various reasons, including changes in regulations etc. Flight tests were done by DCA (CASA) and there was no cutting corners. Where are the experienced CFI's now? Even in the '80's and '90's there was not more than a dozen in the country with over a decade of experience in the job! It would be even less now I expect? It would seem that some of the recent accidents may relate to training standards (or lack thereof?).
I would be interested to know where 'airmanship' fits into the current training syllabus. If you apply the 'iceberg rule' of what you can see, I suggest it is either not taught or the culture of students these days does not understand it.
The bottom line is that the standards have dropped over the past 20 plus years. My suggestion if you are considering learning now is to find a school with a very experience CFI that supervises his instructors and their products closely. And look outside the major cities. Sure you can train with a Gr3, but it is the senior instructor/CFI that will check you for solo and conduct your PPL test.