Okay all good points but I want to add a beginners caveat, especially with regards to 2 & 3. Some times it is good to do things the wrong way just to get them done. Nothing stops the enthusiasm of being a beginner more that trying to do things perfect. There is so much to learn in web development that I would advise beginners to take the short cuts, like jQuery, at first so they can get their projects out the door. Once you have a few projects completed you then have the confidence to go back and do them right (i.e. start learning how jQuery works by learning javaScript). Also don’t forget how important being able to make mistakes is in the learning process.
Most importantly don’t forget we all have to ask questions when we are learning. The only stupid questions are the ones not asked.