"A household based in the northern part of London seeks an extraordinary and qualified instructor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily miss the term "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it may be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have now been sent in since the unidentified family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained notice throughout the media, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of initial doubt, he found the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid history to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the outset here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they aim to impart.
Adam said the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", said he. "The parents know this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the education sector who express these doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can act as a representation of English culture, a person who can possibly transfer the qualities of a English gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will not instantly create the result they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I think the situation that the global community holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
