"A household residing in North London seeks an exceptional and experienced educator to guide their youngest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally overlook the phrase "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the most significant part of this unusual position posting, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have already been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received notice in the news, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding early skepticism, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told him they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the education at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they wish to instil.
Adam noted the tutor must be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", could the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied he. "They know this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who share those reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He wrote that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the time of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of English culture, an individual who can somehow transfer the attributes of a English gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from early childhood will will not automatically produce the goal they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be educated – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
