"A household residing in north London wants to find an exceptional and skilled tutor to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the wording "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most significant part of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have now been received since the unnamed family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained interest across the news, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that despite first skepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is rather absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to impart.
He explained the tutor must be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to Adam the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to success and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by anyway?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The parents know this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who share these reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that a single person can function as a representation of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will not automatically create the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
