"A household residing in north London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced instructor to assist their most junior child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily skip the phrase "initial stages" as just figurative language.
But, it might be the crucial aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have already been received since the unnamed family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received interest across the press, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of first scepticism, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they appreciated the unusual aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the firstborn had absorbed "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they aim to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor must be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
However, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who have similar concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and living dual heritages. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can act as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will not necessarily create the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to experience several of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
