"A family residing in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and experienced tutor to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally miss the phrase "beginning" as mere an expression.
Yet, it may be the most significant aspect of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have already been received since the unnamed family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted interest across the media, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already set in".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed him they wished to avoid history to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to impart.
Adam said the tutor needed to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", said the CEO. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who share those doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, wrote that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter noted that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the period of seven, and had been brought up understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, someone who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, having a typically British tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily achieve the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
