I learnt age 12 on a heavy 19cwt 6 so had to learn to ring reasonably heavy bells. I usually rang treble to the third. We were encouraged to ring further round but it felt somewhat half-hearted. My sister and I struggled with the weight so we didn't push it. A few years after we learnt I noticed some boy learners were seriously encouraged to "have a go" on the tenor etc. They were expected to try, to fail and to get better. They did exactly that. That was just the norm.