"A family based in North London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled instructor to support their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the most significant element of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have already been submitted since the anonymous family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the advert has received interest across the media, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, stated that despite early scepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to him they wished to avoid the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the outset here is rather osmotic," stated the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they wish to impart.
Adam explained 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 educator simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "They understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the private teaching field who express these concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He wrote that he had relocated from China to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can act as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will will not automatically achieve the goal they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been privileged enough to experience many of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the expert thinks can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
