"A household located in north London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily skip the phrase "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the crucial element of this unique employment listing, as it aims to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been received since the unnamed family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received attention throughout the news, with many questioning why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that despite initial scepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told Adam they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to impart.
Adam said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed Adam the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", would the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", said he. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who share these concerns.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been raised experiencing and practicing both cultures. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can function as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can possibly transplant the qualities of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a typically UK tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily produce the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
