Without starting a debate as to HOW to teach a teenager a manual trans, my
father had a very easy method for teaching the use of clutch. I learned
sufficiently in one afternoon and feel competent even now after having
driven automatics for many years since. I think the the feeling of having
mastery over the vehicle by learning a manual trans helps improve one as a
driver in general. I think automatics encourage a certain lazy approach to
driving because of its relative ease.

The component missing from most US driver training but is required in many
European countries is skid control, accident avoidance techniques and a
strong respect for the rules of high-speed roads. My formal training was a
joke. It was irregular but it was not very different from my peers at the
time.