I am sorry, but don't you americans learn to drive stick at when you want to get your drivers lisence?!
Might be that I am from Norway (North part of Europe), and the rules here clearly state that you MUST learn how to drive stick.. Of course you can take the drivers lisence here with an automatic, but then you are not allowed by law, to ever drive stick, unless you take that test..
Then again most people here in Scandinavia drives stick, yes some prefer automatic ofc