"A household based in North London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified tutor to support their smallest child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily skip the term "beginning" as simple figurative language.
But, it might be the most important element of this unique job advert, as it aims to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have already been sent in since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained interest throughout the news, with numerous wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of initial scepticism, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unusual character of their requirement, 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 bias had by then become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told Adam they did not want the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," said the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they want to cultivate.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told him the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he said.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who have these concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been educated knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can act as a representation of Britishness, someone who can possibly transplant the qualities of a English gentleman to a infant child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially British tutor from babyhood will does not automatically achieve the result they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO believes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the situation that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
