"Parents based in north London seeks an extraordinary and skilled educator to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most significant element of this unusual employment listing, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a infant.
Many of applications have now been sent in since the unnamed family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted notice in the press, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their quest, said that despite initial doubt, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how young their son is.
However, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had absorbed "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they want to impart.
He noted the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety 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 view, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "The parents know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the education sector who express those doubts.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the period of seven, and had been educated knowing and practicing dual heritages. He went on to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The notion that one individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can possibly transplant the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a typically English tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily create the result they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO thinks can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
