They might actually be helping. Driving something like the sm420 tranny in my Willys is child's play for anyone....driving an MJ with 3.07's needs finesse.
The best work I did with clutching was in the militia, using a ramp. We needed to climb up it, back halfway down, stop and hold, drive to the top and over halfway down the other side, stop and hold, reverse to the top, then drive down and off the ramp. You can't do that without learning the friction point.
For my daughter, she gets the same treatment as me from my parents....she NEEDS to take her driving test on a standard. She can do it with an automatic, but if she does, she's NEVER driving our standards. That includes the MJ. (which we bought for her).
Learn the friction point....if you learn to hold a vehicle on an incline with just the clutch, it will help immensely.
Good luck...we were all there once. :banana: