"A household located in the northern part of London seeks an exceptional and experienced educator to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily skip the term "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most significant aspect of this unique job advert, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a infant.
Numerous of submissions have since been received since the unnamed family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the listing has received notice across the news, with many asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of initial skepticism, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unusual nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "How you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they did not want this pattern to recur with their infant.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they aim to impart.
He explained the tutor had to be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to success and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", replied he. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who share similar reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the time of childhood, and had been raised knowing and living dual heritages. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can act as a representation of English culture, someone who can somehow impart the qualities of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically English tutor from infancy will not instantly achieve the outcome they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
