"A family based in North London seeks an exceptional and qualified educator to support their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might naturally overlook the phrase "beginning" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most important part of this distinctive position posting, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a infant.
Numerous of applications have since been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest across the news, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, said that in spite of first scepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual character of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed him they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they aim to cultivate.
Adam noted the tutor must be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The parents know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who share similar concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and living both cultures. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can function as a representation of English culture, a person who can somehow transplant the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will not instantly achieve the result they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
