"Parents based in the northern part of London seeks an exceptional and skilled educator to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as just an expression.
But, it may be the most significant aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have already been received since the unidentified family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained interest across the media, with many asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding initial doubt, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the atypical character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they did not want history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in riding, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in success and create opportunities.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "English culture", might the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", replied he. "The family know this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who share these reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and practicing dual heritages. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can possibly impart the attributes of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will will not instantly achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to live numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
