"A family residing in north London seeks an remarkable and qualified educator to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily miss the term "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this unusual position posting, as it aims to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have since been received since the unnamed family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted notice in the press, with numerous questioning why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that in spite of early doubt, he found the concept "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family told him they wished to avoid this pattern to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they wish to instil.
Adam explained the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "The family understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who express similar reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and practicing dual heritages. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can possibly transfer the attributes of a English gentleman onto a infant child, appears naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a typically UK tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily produce the result they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
