"A household residing in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled educator to assist their smallest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might readily skip the term "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
But, it might be the crucial element of this unique position posting, as it aims to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have already been received since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained attention across the news, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that despite first doubt, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional aspect of their request, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
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 adopted their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they aim to cultivate.
He said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "English culture", could the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", said the CEO. "The family know this could fail, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who share these doubts.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He explained that he had moved from China to the Britain at the period of childhood, and had been raised knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can act as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can in some way impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will does not instantly achieve the result they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
