Thump, have you tried posting on the instructors forum? Get them to have a look at this thread. You'll probably not get a concensus, but it'll be interesting.
Let us know how todays lesson goes. I'd be interested to know why they insist on the higher speed. As you say, I assume it's a 'safety factor' but I also agree that this is the wrong way to teach - I've always been pushed to get every part of the flight correct from the first time and this method seems to work, for me at least. I do agree that a float is better than a stall on short final, but why accept either?