"Parents based in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified instructor to support their youngest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily overlook the phrase "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the most important aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have now been received since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the post has attracted notice throughout the media, with many asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of first doubt, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent history to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is rather acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to impart.
Adam said the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to success and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have those reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey 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 the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing both cultures. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can function as a representation of UK identity, a person who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will not necessarily produce the result they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
