"A family based in north London wants to find an exceptional and skilled tutor to guide their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily overlook the term "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most significant part of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have now been sent in since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained attention across the media, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that in spite of early scepticism, he considered the concept "visionary", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "How you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they wish to instil.
He said the tutor had to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", would the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the international family he lives with anyway?
"Yes", answered Adam. "They know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the education sector who share similar concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and embodying dual heritages. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, an individual who can in some way transfer the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the outcome they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be educated – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
