"A household residing in North London is looking for an remarkable and experienced educator to support their smallest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might readily miss the term "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
But, it could be the crucial aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have already been submitted since the unidentified family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained attention across the press, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their quest, said that despite early doubt, he found the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already taken hold".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to impart.
Adam said the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
However, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", replied he. "The family know this may not work, but they've just taken 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 explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express similar reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He explained that he had moved from China to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can in some way impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily create the goal they want.
"I never had such a figure, and however I have been lucky enough to live several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be taught – and sold.
"I think the fact that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
