"A family based in North London wants to find an remarkable and experienced instructor to support their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might readily miss the term "beginning" as just figurative language.
However, it may be the most important part of this distinctive position posting, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have already been sent in since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received notice throughout the news, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that in spite of initial doubt, he found the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already become established".
But what did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," stated the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to impart.
Adam noted the tutor needed to be someone who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the international family he lives with in any case?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The parents know this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
A number of in the tutoring industry who express similar reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had moved from China to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been educated experiencing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that an individual can function as a representation of English culture, someone who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, having a typically UK tutor from early childhood will will not instantly produce the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something the expert hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the situation that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
