"A family residing in north London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced tutor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily miss the wording "beginning" as just figurative language.
But, it may be the crucial element of this unusual position posting, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have since been sent in since the unnamed family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted interest across the media, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, explained that in spite of first doubt, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unusual nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the outset here is rather osmotic," said the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they want to instil.
The consultant said the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", would the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "They understand this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share similar reservations.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been educated knowing and living two backgrounds. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam believes can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the fact that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
