"A household residing in north London seeks an remarkable and skilled educator to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily miss the term "beginning" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most important part of this unusual employment listing, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have already been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has received interest in the press, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, stated that despite early skepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", he replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to him they wished to avoid this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," said the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they aim to cultivate.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in riding, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the international family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who express these concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been brought up knowing and living two backgrounds. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can somehow impart the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a distinctly UK tutor from early childhood will will not instantly achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something Adam hopes can be taught – and commercialized.
"In my view the reality that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
