A Picture is worth a thousand words. If you can do it,take the lad up in the same aircraft and show him what it can do. Show him how many circuits you can do in an hour, do a few SF and glide approaches and then let him decide for himself whether he is in the right school. Most every time that this occurs the poor student doesn't know any different what BS the instructors are feeding him.
EDIT-Just to add, RB I agree with you and I think you should. I am just lucky that a couple of pro pilots got me early and showed me the life of a pro pilot and how I should fly ALL the time. My choices then helped me pick a good team to finish my training just recently. From a student's point of view. We are just putty, what ever is bashed into us at the beginning stays with us for life. I guess it depends on how cocky your neighbour is and whether he will accept the advice for what it is, after all you are only interested in his welfare.
Last edited by OZBUSDRIVER; 18th Nov 2006 at 00:44.