My kids' school teaches one chapter of Vayikra, and then switches to Bereishis. Half the time I don't know the stories they're talking about. Either way, to teach those stories and not the moral or metaphoric language being used is meaningless. Then, they don't even have time to cover the whole parasha, because they are too busy with Amazing Stories. I guess it's the easy way out.
Exciting stories hold the kids' attention.
For example, my daughter recently left the table without bentching. I figure as long as they're keeping up with school, and they want to learn, they'll do okay. The owner of the water keeps the water for himself. This scenario is described clearly in the Talmud. The latest issue of the Torah U'Mada Journal has a fascinating article written by Rabbi Adam Mintz about translations of the Talmud.