"A household based in north London seeks an extraordinary and qualified educator to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the most important element of this unusual job advert, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have already been sent in since the unnamed family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained interest in the press, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of first skepticism, he found the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then set in".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to him they did not want this pattern to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to instil.
He explained the tutor must be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "They know this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who share these doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can act as a living vessel of Britishness, an individual who can in some way impart the qualities of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will will not automatically produce the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the situation that the international society views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
