"Parents based in North London wants to find an exceptional and qualified educator to support their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily overlook the term "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most significant aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a infant.
Numerous of applications have already been received since the unidentified family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained interest in the media, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding first doubt, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the atypical nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", he answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they wish to instil.
He noted the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "The family know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and we should start as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who share these doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He noted that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and embodying both cultures. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, an individual who can somehow impart the qualities of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, having a typically UK tutor from babyhood will will not instantly achieve the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
