"A household based in north London wants to find an remarkable and experienced instructor to support their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily overlook the term "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most important part of this unique employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Many of responses have now been sent in since the unnamed family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted attention throughout the press, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that in spite of early doubt, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is rather acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they wish to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
But, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child pick up alleged cultural leaning from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express these reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He noted that he had moved from China to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that an individual can act as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman to a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a typically British tutor from babyhood will not automatically create the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something the expert believes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"In my view the situation that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
