"Parents based in North London seeks an remarkable and qualified tutor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally miss the term "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the most significant part of this unique employment listing, as it aims to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have already been received since the anonymous family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has attracted attention in the press, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that despite initial doubt, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they recognized the unconventional character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," said Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor must be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he notes.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", might the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The parents understand this could fail, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who express these concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the time of seven, and had been raised experiencing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can act as a representation of UK identity, a person who can somehow impart the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO believes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"In my view the reality that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
