Most students could do a decent landing in our Blanik after 15 flights,
starting with deciding when to break off the airwork and return to the
airport, entering the pattern, and finally, the actual "landing". I say
"landing" because I think the landing starts with the decision to land,
not the flare.

Your "landing" is what most folks would call the pattern or circuit,
depending on your country of reference.

I was advised against making touch and goes as they rob the student of
needed practice in the rollout which is the most important part of a
tailwheel landing. I was advised to do stop and goes, and while my stops
were seldom complete they did give me time to reconfigure the aircraft
properly for takeoff. I often notice that pilots doing T&Gs land too fast
and are unable to hold the nosewheel off in a proper (improperly named, full
stall) mains first landing.

They each have their place. I like touch and goes, if the runway length
is sufficient (don't ask :-) ), because it teaches a student to perform
multiple tasks in a short amount of time - plan and perform the landing,
maintain directional control, add power (torque, and other forces
change), maintain directional control, clean up the flaps, maintain
directional control, re-trim the aircraft, maintain directional control,
..... These are useful skills, IMHO. As for T&G pilots landing too fast
or in an improper attitude, that's the instructors fault, I think.

Tony V.