"A family residing in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to assist their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally miss the wording "beginning" as mere figurative language.
However, it could be the most significant element of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have since been received since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received interest throughout the media, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the atypical aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then become established".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told Adam they did not want the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," stated the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they want to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", answered the CEO. "The parents know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who express these doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and living two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that an individual can function as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a quintessentially UK tutor from infancy will does not instantly produce the result they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
