Haha I have had my fair share of misshaps with the rc's too so I feel your pain, a split second mistake easily turns into a several hundred dollar "oops!" , usually caused by hotdogging in my case lol
Lucky for me with the real ones I have managed to keep my number of landings equal to my number of take-offs so far and hope to keep it that way ;P
Flight school is a great idea, just make sure you are fully committed and have a true love for the flying. Best to take an introductory flight first, but trust me, once you are hooked and it gets I your blood, its like a drug, you just gotta have more and more! Its pretty unexplainable to feel the responsibility, yet freedom that it brings. I love taking people for their first flight...the look on their face is always priceless and I usually can't wipe the smile off their face, or mine either