"A family based in North London seeks an exceptional and qualified instructor to assist their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally miss the wording "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been received since the anonymous family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received interest in the media, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that despite first skepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then become established".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
However, despite all this instruction in "English culture", could the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", answered he. "They understand this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who express these doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been raised knowing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can somehow transplant the qualities of a English gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will not necessarily produce the result they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something Adam hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
