We should teach students to soar concurrently with gliding and to the best we can. But my take on the licensing bit(in the US) is that it is a glider license and soaring is the sport you use a glider license for. Get the gliding license, sometimes without any demonstration of soaring skill, then go off chase soaring at what ever level you wish to tackle.
Different from the European standards that ties soaring skill and experience in with the rating. Both have pluses and minuses.
For those horrified at the prospect of Airplane CFIs with 15 hour glider instructor add ons, whatever you do don't go look at the minimums for the Sport Pilot Glider Instructor rating. Hint 61.411 lolz
We should have a contest to see which club can make a Sport Pilot Glider Instructor with the least amount of time