"A household located in the northern part of London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified instructor to guide their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally miss the phrase "beginning" as just figurative language.
But, it might be the crucial aspect of this unique employment listing, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have already been received since the unidentified family posted their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has attracted attention in the press, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of early skepticism, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual nature of their request, and how young their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," stated the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to cultivate.
He noted the tutor had to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in horse riding, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who share similar doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He noted that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing dual heritages. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of Britishness, a person who can in some way impart the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a infant child, appears idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from babyhood will not necessarily achieve the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, self-identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
