"A household residing in north London is looking for an remarkable and experienced instructor to assist their most junior child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily skip the term "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
However, it might be the crucial element of this unique job advert, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been received since the anonymous family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted notice across the press, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, said that despite early doubt, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told him they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," stated the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to impart.
Adam explained the tutor had to be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the selected educator should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who express these reservations.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He explained that he had relocated from China to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been brought up understanding and living two backgrounds. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can function as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can possibly impart the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears naive and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will does not instantly create the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
