"Parents based in north London wants to find an exceptional and qualified tutor to guide their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily miss the phrase "initial stages" as just an expression.
But, it may be the most important element of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have now been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained interest throughout the media, with many asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, said that despite first scepticism, he considered the idea "visionary", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the atypical character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the outset here is rather osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they want to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire 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.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
However, despite all this guidance in "English culture", could the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the international family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", replied he. "The family know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who share similar doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the age of seven, and had been raised knowing and living two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, an individual who can possibly transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily create the goal they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live several of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something the expert hopes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
