"A household based in North London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled instructor to support their smallest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the term "initial stages" as mere an expression.
Yet, it could be the most significant aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been sent in since the unidentified family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received attention throughout the media, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that despite initial skepticism, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the atypical nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they did not want history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor must be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have similar concerns.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a typically English tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
