"A household residing in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced educator to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might naturally overlook the phrase "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most important part of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have now been received since the unidentified family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has attracted interest throughout the news, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, stated that in spite of early scepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the atypical aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then become established".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told him they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to impart.
Adam noted the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or passion in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", would the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", said the CEO. "They know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have similar reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and living both cultures. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can function as a representation of English culture, an individual who can in some way transplant the qualities of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from early childhood will not instantly achieve the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
