"Parents based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced instructor to assist their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily miss the phrase "initial stages" as just an expression.
However, it may be the crucial part of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a infant.
Many of applications have already been received since the unnamed family advertised their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the post has received attention in the press, with numerous wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told him they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the learning at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they aim to cultivate.
He explained the tutor needed to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "English culture", could the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with anyway?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try 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 education sector who share these concerns.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had moved from China to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and living dual heritages. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can function as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will not instantly produce the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be educated – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
