"A family residing in north London is looking for an remarkable and skilled instructor to support their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily miss the wording "beginning" as simple an expression.
Yet, it may be the crucial element of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have already been received since the unnamed family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has received attention across the news, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of initial doubt, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they want to instil.
Adam explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
But, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "The family 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.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who express these doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and living two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can function as a representation of English culture, an individual who can somehow impart the characteristics of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the result they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to live many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
