"A family based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced tutor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily miss the phrase "beginning" as mere figurative language.
However, it could be the most significant part of this unique job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have already been sent in since the anonymous family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained notice throughout the news, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, said that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he found the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they aim to impart.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the international family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The family understand this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who express these doubts.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from the Far East to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will will not instantly produce the goal they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
