"A family residing in north London wants to find an extraordinary and skilled tutor to assist their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the term "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most significant part of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have already been received since the unnamed family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received interest in the press, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of first doubt, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they understood the unconventional character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained 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 influence had by then become established".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they wish to impart.
Adam noted the tutor had to be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
However, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child pick up alleged cultural influence from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who express those doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been raised knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that a single person can act as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can somehow impart the characteristics of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly English tutor from infancy will will not instantly produce the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to experience many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something the expert hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"In my view the fact that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
