School districts have been cutting back on everything that doesn't show up on standardized tests, and it's possible that there's just less demand for sewing since patterns and fabric got expensive while imported clothing stayed cheap relative to the rest of the economy. When I took a sewing class in junior high in about 1960, I don't remember any mention of quilts. We were learning to sew clothes. It was considered an important skill because it was economical. It was assumed that most women would want and need to have the ability to do at least basic sewing and mending, and a semester of sewing as well as one of cooking were required courses. All the boys were required to take a semester of shop and one of woodworking. Cross-overs by gender were not an option. These days I doubt the average woman has either the desire or the time to focus on sewing except as a hobby. It's still popular, but it's not considered necessary as it once was.