I did my whole tail dragger check out with the instructor in the back. Course I was a certified pilot. Didn’t check with insurance though. I would thinkif your wife not being certified that would be a show stopper for me. I remember several landings my CFI did him telling me to move my head left & right too..
As I recall you can solo (PIC) from ether front or back in the citabria / champs, so that shouldn’t be a factor unless you are not allowed passengers for some other reason
not very well