"A family based in the northern part of London seeks an exceptional and qualified educator to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might readily miss the phrase "initial stages" as just an expression.
However, it could be the most significant element of this unusual employment listing, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have already been submitted since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained notice across the news, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, said that in spite of first skepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the unusual nature of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid history to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they want to cultivate.
He explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Absolutely", answered he. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who share those doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the time of childhood, and had been educated knowing and living both cultures. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can function as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can somehow transfer the attributes of a English gentleman onto a infant child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, engaging a typically British tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily create the outcome they want.
"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something Adam thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
