Maybe I have a warped perspective, but since I rode extensively as a child, have continued to ride extensively as an adult, and have ridden extensively with my child as well as others, I just don't see any problem with teaching children how to ride properly. It seems obvious to me that knowing how and when to take the lane is a basic riding skill, right up there with being able to brake properly. Not being able to do it would be rather restrictive and/or dangerous if one intends to use a bicycle to meet one's transportation desires.
For those of you who haven't ridden with children, it is a different experience than riding alone or with other adults. That small percentage of motorists who appear to hate cyclists and do all sorts of obnoxious close passes seemingly designed to "teach you a lesson" disappear when a child is in the picture. People who have no patience for an adult on a bike slowing them down will happily wait all day for a child. When they pass it is almost as if they actually care about the child's well-being. One of my neighbors has four children. He thought our local motorists were very courteous until his kids got older and he found himself mostly riding without them. He was shocked at how much more aggression he faced when he didn't have an escort of children.
Now if we could just get the adults who ride on bike paths to give children the same safety/courtesy that motorists give them on the road, we might just get some of those children to enjoy riding their bikes.