"Parents residing in north London wants to find an remarkable and qualified educator to assist their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might easily miss the wording "beginning" as just a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the crucial part of this unusual employment listing, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have since been submitted since the unnamed family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted interest throughout the press, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, stated that despite early skepticism, he considered the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told him they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to instil.
The consultant said the tutor must be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of courses 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 minds, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", answered he. "The family understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have these doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He noted that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing both cultures. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, an individual who can in some way impart the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will does not automatically achieve the outcome they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, English culture is something the expert thinks can be educated – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
