"Parents based in North London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified educator to guide their youngest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily miss the term "beginning" as simple figurative language.
But, it might be the most significant aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have since been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained notice throughout the media, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that in spite of first scepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional character of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then taken hold".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they did not want the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the outset here is rather absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to instil.
He noted the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents know this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who share similar doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He noted that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and living both cultures. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can possibly impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will does not necessarily achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
