"A family located in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and experienced tutor to support their most junior child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally miss the term "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most significant aspect of this unique job advert, as it seeks to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have already been received since the anonymous family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained interest across the press, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding early doubt, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already set in".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they did not want history to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to impart.
The consultant said the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", said he. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who share these concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and living dual heritages. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can somehow impart the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will will not automatically create the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something Adam believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
