"A family based in North London is looking for an remarkable and skilled educator to assist their youngest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most important aspect of this unique job advert, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have since been sent in since the anonymous family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted attention across the media, with numerous questioning why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of initial skepticism, he found the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the atypical character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told Adam they did not want history to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to instil.
He explained the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", said he. "They understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who have these reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and practicing dual heritages. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can act as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, having a distinctly English tutor from infancy will does not instantly create the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
