"A household based in North London seeks an exceptional and qualified tutor to support their most junior child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily miss the phrase "initial stages" as just figurative language.
But, it may be the most significant part of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have now been received since the unidentified family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received interest in the news, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that in spite of initial skepticism, he found the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they recognized the unusual character of their request, 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 held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they aim to instil.
Adam 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 must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child adopt alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with anyway?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who have those concerns.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and living both cultures. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can act as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a infant child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a typically UK tutor from early childhood will will not instantly achieve the goal they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something Adam believes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
