When my step daughter was learning, I really wanted her to learn in a manual, but it wasn't my place (not being dad). My wife sort of agreed but wouldn't push it, so I came up with an offer I thought too good to refuse - I'd buy her a car if she would learn manual.
Believe it or not she refused as it would take too long to learn......
And yes, she bought her own old (automatic) car....... and wrote it off two months later.