"Parents residing in north London is looking for an remarkable and experienced educator to assist their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might easily overlook the term "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the crucial element of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a infant.
Many of responses have since been received since the unnamed family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received notice in the news, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he found the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unusual character of their requirement, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then set in".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told Adam they did not want history to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they want to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor must be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to success and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", would the child pick up alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who have similar concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from China to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been raised experiencing and practicing both cultures. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can function as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can possibly transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a typically UK tutor from infancy will does not instantly achieve the goal they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something the expert thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
