"A household based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and skilled educator to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily skip the phrase "initial stages" as just figurative language.
However, it might be the crucial part of this unusual job advert, as it aims to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have already been submitted since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained attention across the press, with many asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their search, said that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the start here is kind of osmotic," said Adam.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they want to instil.
He said the tutor had to be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", replied he. "They know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have similar doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been raised knowing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can function as a representation of English culture, an individual who can possibly impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a typically British tutor from infancy will not automatically produce the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
