"A household located in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and skilled educator to guide their smallest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the phrase "initial stages" as just figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most significant part of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been received since the unnamed family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received interest throughout the media, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that despite first doubt, he found the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they did not want this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they aim to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor must be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment 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 tutelage in "UK identity", would the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family realize this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who have similar doubts.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been educated knowing and living two backgrounds. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that one individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, someone who can possibly transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a typically English tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
