"A family located in north London seeks an remarkable and qualified instructor to guide their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally skip the term "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
However, it may be the most important aspect of this unique job advert, as it attempts to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have since been sent in since the unidentified family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted interest across the news, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of first doubt, he found the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Money No Object
The family informed him the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", answered the CEO. "The parents know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and we should start as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have similar concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can act as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can somehow impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will will not automatically create the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to live several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
