Please allow me to offer the following in response to your questions ...
Sonlight is in the business of education ... thus we are willing to offer all sides of an issue in order to allow you, as parent, to lead as you desire. We will always stand on the truth that God is Creator and He did create all. Beyond that, we will offer many insights, but not single answers to all questions. We do not take an official stance regarding issues about young earth vs. old earth creationism, or theistic evolution ... because we leave it to you as the parent/teacher to determine your approach to science and creation as you see fit.
(ending paragraph for "new to Sonlight" customers)
We do include some book selections in our science programs which contain material supportive of evolution. We include them primarily because we do not take an isolationist approach to knowledge. The subject of evolution is not something we want to teach children to avoid or put down without adequate understanding. As the dominant perspective in contemporary science, evolution deserves mention and attention, even from those who disagree with its argument. With that said, we do our best to provide balanced perspectives in relation to any potentially divisive content such as evolution.
Beyond that we do not label ourselves with any particular brand of theology as we seek to serve Christians and non-Christians, and wish to be an encouragement to all believers. It is our belief that these issues are better left up to the parent as they are the prime educators of their children.
(ending paragraph for those who already have a Science IG)
Have you had an opportunity to read the introductory article in the front of our Science IGs (titled Evolution and the Age of the Earth)? That will lay out for you our approach to teaching evolution and age of the earth. Beyond that we do not label ourselves with any particular brand of theology as we seek to serve Christians and non-Christians, and wish to be an encouragement to all believers. It is our belief that these issues are better left up to the parent as they are the prime educators of their children.
Thank you for your email ________. I do appreciate your taking the time to contact us regarding something that has raised a concern for you.
Please let me reassure you first that we are indeed a Christian, evangelical company. We will never "teach" your children evolution as fact, nor suggest that you do so. Instead, we attempt to present students with varying viewpoints on creation, in an attempt to allow parents the freedom to address the subject with their children.
Sonlight takes a creationist point of view (as opposed to evolutionist). Usborne is a secular publisher. Their books do contain occasional references to evolution or evolutionary concepts. Since we do believe that it is our responsibility as parents to teach our children discernment, these references offer us an excellent opportunity to do so. When I came across these references when teaching my own children, we would stop for a moment ... discuss why we did not agree with the statements espousing evolution ... and even take a few moments to read the creation account from Genesis if we needed the additional reminder of God's part in creation. It was not a complex conversation ... simply an opportunity to begin, at a young age, to make my children aware that not everyone agrees with God's word. It was amazing to me how quick they were to recognize evolutionary thought wherever they encountered it ... and that they were well able to explain *why* they didn't agree with it. One of our values at Sonlight is to help you raise your children to be ambassadors for Christ, by teaching them as they mature to defend themselves against evil, and to learn even from an early age to contend for that which is good. It is our hope that these books will present you with many opportunities to have meaningful discussions with your children through the years to help them weigh information they encounter in the world, and eventually learn to successfully debate and defend their beliefs in an environment that is safe and not bent on their destruction.