"Parents located in north London is looking for an remarkable and skilled tutor to assist their most junior child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily miss the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
But, it may be the most important aspect of this unusual position posting, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a infant.
Numerous of applications have now been received since the unnamed family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained interest in the news, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, explained that in spite of early skepticism, he found the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical aspect of their request, and how young their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to him they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the learning at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
He noted the tutor must be someone who went to "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and create opportunities.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he comments.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", answered he. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who express those doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies private tutors, wrote that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can function as a representation of English culture, an individual who can possibly transplant the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, having a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will not instantly create the goal they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the world holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
