"A family based in north London is looking for an remarkable and skilled instructor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily skip the phrase "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most important aspect of this unique position posting, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have now been sent in since the unidentified family posted their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained interest across the media, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, explained that in spite of first doubt, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already become established".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to instil.
The consultant said the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "English culture", might the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The family realize this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who have those doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and living dual heritages. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can possibly transfer the attributes of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a typically English tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily produce the result they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam believes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
