"Parents based in north London seeks an remarkable and qualified instructor to assist their youngest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily skip the term "beginning" as mere figurative language.
But, it might be the crucial aspect of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have already been sent in since the unidentified family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained notice throughout the press, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he considered the plan "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the atypical nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the selected educator should preferably also have familiarity of or passion in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", would the child absorb alleged cultural leaning from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
A number of in the tutoring industry who share similar doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and living both cultures. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can act as a embodiment of UK identity, an individual who can possibly transplant the attributes of a British gentleman upon a infant child, appears idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a typically UK tutor from infancy will not necessarily achieve the goal they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience many of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be educated – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
