"A household residing in north London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified tutor to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily skip the wording "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most important part of this unusual employment listing, as it aims to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have now been received since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained attention across the press, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that despite initial scepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they did not want this pattern to recur with their infant.
The plan: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they want to instil.
Adam explained the tutor must be someone who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who have similar reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been raised understanding and living dual heritages. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can possibly transplant the characteristics of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially English tutor from infancy will does not necessarily produce the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
