"Parents based in north London is looking for an remarkable and skilled instructor to support their youngest child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily overlook the phrase "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it could be the most important aspect of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have already been submitted since the unidentified family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received interest throughout the media, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding initial doubt, he found the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the unconventional character of their requirement, 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 postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the education at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they wish to cultivate.
He said the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up 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 lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", could the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The family know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view 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
A number of in the education sector who share those concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert wrote that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, an individual who can in some way impart the qualities of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will does not automatically produce the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, self-identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
