Most flying schools have check lists with far to many items.
The circuit is a very good example, if the student were not head in cockpit reading and checking for redundant items they would be paying attention to flying the proper attitudes and looking for other traffic. Thereby improving situational awareness.
Most basic trainers such as Cessnas etc. have only two items that require attention during circuit flying, carb heat and flaps.
However by making the down wind check list almost as long as an annual inspection it does make the learning to fly the aircraft more time consuming.
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The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.