"Parents located in north London seeks an extraordinary and qualified educator to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally overlook the phrase "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most important part of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have now been received since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received attention in the news, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that despite first skepticism, he found the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already set in".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the outset here is rather absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they wish to instil.
He explained the tutor had to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, despite all this instruction in "English culture", might the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "They understand this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who express those concerns.
An education leader, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been educated knowing and embodying dual heritages. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that one individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, someone who can in some way transplant the attributes of a English gentleman upon a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"In my experience, having a typically English tutor from early childhood will does not automatically create the outcome they want.
"I never had such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
