I don't even have a tach!! Sometimes i think about getting one. I'd rather have a manifold pressure gauge really. Unless it's one of those cool F1 led tachs, I want one of those.

make him help replace bent push rods and he'll learn not to miss shifts.

I think slamming the car into the wrong gear is worse than over revving in neutral, at some point the engine will get to as fast as it wants to spin and not go any faster.

A newbie is more likely to shift into the wrong gear I think, from what I see at events where kids drive. Things get hectic and they get flustered and shift badly. So yell ay him lots whil learning to drive stick so stress won't get to him as much ;)