Julie, in my opinion, let whoever it is tackle what they seek to tackle. The reason I say that is if you think about it...every scrollsaw pattern out there is a series of lines...whether straight, wiggly, curved, etc. The ONLY difference (in my opinion) between patterns is the amount of "shapes" to cut out. If someone can cut out a blob shape, a snow flake or any other shape then all that is left is patience. Some might argue that an intricate pattern is too hard for a beginner due to fragile areas potentially breaking. Well, that may be true, but some people learn better by challenging themselves from the start. If he/she breaks a few delicate areas...so be it. They still learn. I say let them at it
I started using spiral blades from day one, and that's what I use when teaching. You'll be surprised sometimes just how quickly people catch on if you ratchet up the difficulty in the beginning. Not for everyone, but it has worked for me.