When I was coming up, almost all of my instructors taught 1-2-4 fingering exclusively up to the fifth position, with the 3 primarily used on passing tones. Is this still the "textbook technique" that's taught in ensemble/music school/etc?

I ask because I see a whole lot of youngsters struggling with 1-2-3-4 fingering in the lower positions, and they're all skittish when I suggest the more relaxed 1-2-4 method.