"A family based in North London wants to find an remarkable and skilled instructor to guide their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily miss the phrase "beginning" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most important aspect of this unique job advert, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Many of responses have already been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained attention throughout the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, stated that in spite of early doubt, he considered the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they want to cultivate.
He said the tutor must be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", would the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who have similar doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He noted that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been educated knowing and practicing both cultures. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can function as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can somehow transfer the qualities of a British gentleman onto a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will will not automatically produce the outcome they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something the expert believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
