"A household residing in the northern part of London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced instructor to support their youngest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily skip the phrase "beginning" as just figurative language.
But, it may be the most significant aspect of this unusual employment listing, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have since been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained notice across the press, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that despite first scepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the atypical nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then taken hold".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they wish to instil.
Adam explained the tutor must be an individual who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", replied Adam. "They understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who share these doubts.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been educated understanding and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The concept that a single person can act as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can possibly impart the qualities of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically English tutor from babyhood will will not automatically produce the outcome they want.
"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to experience many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
