"Parents residing in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and experienced tutor to guide their youngest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily miss the wording "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
However, it could be the most significant aspect of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been received since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has attracted notice across the media, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding first skepticism, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told Adam they did not want history to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
He said the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
But, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The family realize this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who share these doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had relocated from China to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and embodying dual heritages. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can in some way impart the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a typically British tutor from babyhood will not necessarily produce the result they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam believes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the global community holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
