"Parents based in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and experienced educator to support their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might easily overlook the term "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
However, it may be the most important part of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have since been sent in since the unidentified family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received notice throughout the news, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, stated that despite initial doubt, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "How you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid history to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they aim to cultivate.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", replied he. "The parents understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who share those reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and living two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can act as a representation of Britishness, someone who can in some way impart the attributes of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unfeasible," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will does not instantly create the goal they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
