I always felt that teaching a kid on open/iron sights was doing them a favor.
Then when they moved up to optics they appreciated them better and if
anything every happen to the glass they'd still be able to carry on.
I definitely agree with that. I learned on irons, and can still outshoot my Father plinking with our pellet guns... my irons to his scope
My kids got the basics of iron sights down. He can now "outshoot" his "buck" model Daisy, but he's used to having the fiber optic sights. There's a little tasco scope on his Powerline 880...I personally can't stand the scope, but it's "his" gun not mine.
I'm thinking that I'll end up putting the Chinese "red dot" from my AR on his Model 60...I'll have to get a weaver/pic mount for it, but that shouldn't be too expensive.