"A family residing in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and qualified educator to guide their youngest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily skip the wording "beginning" as simple figurative language.
However, it could be the crucial element of this unusual employment listing, as it attempts to find a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have already been submitted since the unnamed family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received interest throughout the media, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he found the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told him they wished to avoid history to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to instil.
The consultant said the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", answered he. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who have those reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had moved from China to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and living two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can act as a representation of English culture, a person who can possibly transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a typically British tutor from babyhood will does not automatically produce the result they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"In my view the reality that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
