"A household based in the northern part of London seeks an exceptional and skilled educator to support their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally overlook the wording "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most significant part of this distinctive employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have now been received since the unidentified family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained notice throughout the media, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, explained that despite first doubt, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the unconventional character of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid history to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is kind of osmotic," stated Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to impart.
He explained the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in riding, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "English gentleman" will result in success and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
But, despite all this instruction in "English culture", could the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", said he. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the education sector who share similar concerns.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies individual instructors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been raised knowing and living two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically English tutor from babyhood will not instantly achieve the result they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be educated – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
