The next group buys the absolutely wrong brand-new board at a surf shop. Those groups then try to learn with a board that is just not right or even safe for them. A novice driver will not easily and safely learn to drive in a stick-shift Porsche. Many will give up and return to channel surfing. The happy beginners find a board about two feet taller than their height to learn their basics more quickly.
Early success aids motivation.
The right used board is the best choice. The BZ company makes full-sized soft boards that some camps use. They move slowly and are stable. A rented BZ can take the sting of out of the first week. The best waves for beginners generally come between dawn and noon with winds less than 10 mph, and an incoming tide.