"Parents residing in north London is looking for an remarkable and skilled tutor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most important part of this distinctive employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have since been submitted since the unnamed family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted notice across the press, with many asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, stated that despite first doubt, he considered the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the atypical aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they did not want history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they want to cultivate.
The consultant explained the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or interest in riding, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child pick up alleged cultural leaning from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who express these doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
Peter noted that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can function as a representation of English culture, an individual who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will will not automatically achieve the goal they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to live many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
