"A family located in north London seeks an exceptional and skilled educator to guide their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the crucial element of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a infant.
Many of applications have since been received since the anonymous family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the advert has received attention across the press, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding first doubt, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the unusual nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
However, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they did not want the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to impart.
The consultant said the tutor must be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", might the child pick up alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express these reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been raised understanding and embodying dual heritages. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can act as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can possibly transfer the qualities of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, having a typically English tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the international society holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
