"A household based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified instructor to assist their youngest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily miss the wording "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most significant element of this unique position posting, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have already been submitted since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest in the news, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding first doubt, he considered the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the unconventional nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they wish to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor must be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "The parents know this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who express similar reservations.
An education leader, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies individual instructors, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had relocated from China to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that an individual can act as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will will not instantly create the goal they want.
"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been lucky enough to live numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
