I hear you.
Last century, 1960s, even...
All the good little boys and girls turned out well and won accolades.
The misfits were ignored... some committed suicide...
But, sshh, school pride, and community, and all that!

I'm sorry for the damge to your family.
Math, in particular, seems to be troublesome.
My mom, in the 1940s, struggled with fractions.
Her dad showed her a shortcut.
Her teacher accused her of cheating and demanded that she show her work.
Sound familiar...?????