"Parents based in North London seeks an extraordinary and qualified instructor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple an expression.
However, it might be the most significant element of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have since been received since the unnamed family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained notice throughout the news, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then become established".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family told him they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their infant.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the outset here is rather osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they want to cultivate.
He said the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the international family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share these concerns.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He noted that he had emigrated from the Far East to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can act as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a infant child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, having a distinctly English tutor from infancy will not instantly achieve the result they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to experience several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be educated – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the international society views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
