"A household based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified tutor to guide their youngest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might readily miss the wording "beginning" as just an expression.
Yet, it could be the most significant aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have since been submitted since the unnamed family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained interest in the media, with many asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that in spite of first skepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the outset here is rather osmotic," said the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
Adam explained the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "They understand this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who express those reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been brought up knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, strikes me as naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will will not automatically create the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to live many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the CEO thinks can be educated – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
