No, I was taught English in the fifties and early sixties and understood that U.S.A. was an written abbreviation but when read we were to use “United States of America”, the same as with any abbreviated word.
The quality of public education started its descent into the abyss with the formation of teachers unions. Fortunately, I missed that pernicious assault.
Bit of a thin skinned member of the collective hive known as Public School Teacher aren’t you?