I disagree.
1. Yes, digital can do the same but the film required you to do it, wasn't optional
2. People don't learn any quicker with digital. In fact, could be argued that there are so many optional settings and features with digital that is harder to learn and takes forever.
3. Yes, digital is fast to use but that isn't the same as learning to use. I have and still argue that 80 percent or more of the people using digital DSLRs would not do so if they had to learn to use the camera as was done in the film days.

My nephew teaches photography in high school. Requires students to learn to use a film SLR before moving on to digital. Says it results in quicker and better understanding of photography than starting off with digital.

Should all beginning photographers start out with a film camera to learn how to shoot? Here's 10 reasons why this may be true.

1. It’s so old-fashioned, it makes you look cool. Enough said.

2. Film is unforgiving – it demands hard work, as well as some trial and error, to get a good exposure.

3. No automatic settings. You must become familiar with the principles of exposure, or suffer blank frames.

4. Exposure – If your camera is of an age before light meters were invented, you may have to use the “Sunny 16″ rule of thumb to gauge what settings you should be using (in full sun, your exposure will be f/16 at a
shutter speed equivalent to your ISO – 1/100th sec at 100 ISO, 1/400th sec at 400 ISO, etc).

5. Manual focus – you must consider which part of the picture should be in focus, rather than letting the camera hook on to some random spot.

6. Nobody will steal it. Even previously high-end film cameras aren’t worth much anymore.

7. The ISO isn’t auto. With digital, the effect of ISO has been largely forgotten by many, but because you have to use the same ISO throughout a roll, you have to come to understand its role in your exposure.

8. Slow you down. Manual settings, as well as the consumption of valuable film, forces you to put more thought into each shot, which has obvious positive effects on the learning process.

9. Cheap gear – everyone thinks film is dead, so you can pick up your equipment for a song, or sometimes for nothing at all.

10. No need to upgrade – there are very few film cameras in production anymore (though there are some), leaving you to think about your photographs instead of your equipment. Not to mention that in the days of
film, cameras were built to last a lifetime, rather than the short wait until the company’s next release.

Should all beginning photographers start out with a film camera to learn how to shoot? Here's 10 reasons why this may be true.

1. It’s so old-fashioned, it makes you look cool. Enough said.

2. Film is unforgiving – it demands hard work, as well as some trial and error, to get a good exposure.

3. No automatic settings. You must become familiar with the principles of exposure, or suffer blank frames.

4. Exposure – If your camera is of an age before light meters were invented, you may have to use the “Sunny 16″ rule of thumb to gauge what settings you should be using (in full sun, your exposure will be f/16 at a
shutter speed equivalent to your ISO – 1/100th sec at 100 ISO, 1/400th sec at 400 ISO, etc).

5. Manual focus – you must consider which part of the picture should be in focus, rather than letting the camera hook on to some random spot.

6. Nobody will steal it. Even previously high-end film cameras aren’t worth much anymore.

7. The ISO isn’t auto. With digital, the effect of ISO has been largely forgotten by many, but because you have to use the same ISO throughout a roll, you have to come to understand its role in your exposure.

8. Slow you down. Manual settings, as well as the consumption of valuable film, forces you to put more thought into each shot, which has obvious positive effects on the learning process.

9. Cheap gear – everyone thinks film is dead, so you can pick up your equipment for a song, or sometimes for nothing at all.

10. No need to upgrade – there are very few film cameras in production anymore (though there are some), leaving you to think about your photographs instead of your equipment. Not to mention that in the days of
film, cameras were built to last a lifetime, rather than the short wait until the company’s next release.