"A family residing in north London wants to find an exceptional and qualified instructor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might easily miss the wording "beginning" as mere an expression.
Yet, it could be the most important aspect of this unique employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have since been submitted since the unidentified family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the post has attracted notice throughout the media, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of first skepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already become established".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the start here is somewhat osmotic," explained Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
However, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who have those doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He noted that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been brought up experiencing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman to a infant child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, employing a typically UK tutor from infancy will will not necessarily produce the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
