"A family residing in north London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified educator to guide their most junior child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily overlook the term "beginning" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most important element of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to find a mentor for a infant.
Numerous of responses have since been submitted since the anonymous family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the post has received notice in the press, with several questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding early skepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the atypical nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid history to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," stated Adam.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the international family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express those reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from the Far East to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can in some way transfer the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will not automatically produce the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
