Jenni I do agree with you. My son, who is 27 now, once wrote a story at school (Shatterlocks) starting it "wuns a pon a tim". When I asked why it hadn't been corrected the reply was "Oh we know what he means!" Amazing.
I have to say that he now has a degree and a top job in a university so he did well despite that, but I do share your frustration. You're not old, just well educated
