"A household residing in north London wants to find an remarkable and qualified instructor to support their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily miss the phrase "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most significant part of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a infant.
Many of submissions have since been sent in since the unnamed family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained interest throughout the news, with many questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they recognized the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then set in".
But what does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed him they did not want history to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," stated the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they want to impart.
He said the tutor must be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
However, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who have those doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He noted that he had relocated from China to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been educated knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can function as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a typically English tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily produce the goal they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to live several of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be educated – and commercialized.
"In my view the reality that the world holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
