"A family based in north London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced instructor to guide their youngest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most significant part of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have since been received since the unidentified family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received interest across the press, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding first doubt, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual character of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told him they did not want the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is rather osmotic," said the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to instil.
The consultant said the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "They realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who share similar concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing dual heritages. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can act as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can in some way transfer the qualities of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, having a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will does not automatically achieve the result they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam believes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
