"A family based in north London wants to find an exceptional and qualified tutor to support their youngest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily skip the wording "initial stages" as simple an expression.
Yet, it might be the most significant aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained interest throughout the news, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding first scepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual character of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told him they wished to avoid this pattern to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they wish to instil.
He noted the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The family realize this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who share those doubts.
Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can function as a representation of Britishness, an individual who can possibly impart the attributes of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears naive and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, having a typically UK tutor from babyhood will will not instantly achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
