"A household residing in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and experienced tutor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily overlook the term "initial stages" as just an expression.
But, it may be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to find a teacher for a infant.
Many of applications have now been received since the anonymous family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received notice throughout the press, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that despite first skepticism, he considered the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already become established".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they did not want this pattern to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," explained Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they aim to instil.
The consultant said the tutor had to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "They realize this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who share these doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that a single person can act as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can somehow impart the characteristics of a British gentleman to a one-year-old child, appears naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly British tutor from infancy will not automatically produce the result they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
