"Parents based in north London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified tutor to support their smallest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily miss the wording "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the most important aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a infant.
Many of submissions have since been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received attention throughout the news, with many asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of first scepticism, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unusual nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then set in".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed him they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they want to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be someone who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "English gentleman" will result in success and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
But, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", answered he. "The family understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and we should start as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who have similar doubts.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies individual instructors, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can function as a representation of Britishness, a person who can possibly impart the qualities of a British gentleman to a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will will not instantly achieve the result they hope for.
"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the world holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
