"Parents residing in North London seeks an extraordinary and skilled instructor to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
But, it may be the crucial part of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have since been received since the anonymous family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received attention throughout the media, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of early skepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they aim to impart.
Adam explained the tutor had to 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 appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", would the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "They understand this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express similar concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can function as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can somehow impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly British tutor from infancy will not automatically produce the goal they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to live several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
