"A family based in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified instructor to support their most junior child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily skip the phrase "initial stages" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the most important element of this unusual job advert, as it aims to find a tutor for a infant.
Many of applications have now been sent in since the unidentified family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has received notice throughout the media, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that despite initial doubt, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the atypical character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already taken hold".
But what did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed him they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the development at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they aim to cultivate.
The consultant explained 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 instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who share similar concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from China to the Britain at the age of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and embodying both cultures. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can function as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can somehow impart the attributes of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will will not automatically create the goal they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to experience many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO believes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating