"A family located in north London seeks an exceptional and qualified instructor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the phrase "beginning" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it might be the crucial aspect of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have now been received since the unidentified family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted attention in the media, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding first scepticism, he found the idea "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then become established".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they want 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 plan to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the education sector who have those reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He explained that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been educated experiencing and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can possibly impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily create the goal they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to experience several of the situations they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the global community regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
