"A family located in north London seeks an remarkable and experienced instructor to guide their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the wording "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have now been submitted since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained notice in the press, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of first scepticism, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they understood the unusual nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told him they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their infant.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they want to impart.
He noted the tutor had to be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family informed Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with anyway?
"Yes", answered Adam. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who share similar doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and living dual heritages. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that a single person can function as a representation of UK identity, a person who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a British gentleman to a infant child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will not necessarily produce the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something the expert thinks can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
