Hi,
The Slow Stick has been around a very long time ,was and is a very slow , very easy to fly and very durable plane.
GWS Slow Stick
Before that were balsa wood Sweet Sticks, Ugly Sticks and then Big Sticks and Super Sticks.
Yes , now the trainers are foam and a lot of them have flight stabilization which make it easier for someone to learn to fly on their own.