"Parents located in North London seeks an remarkable and skilled instructor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might easily miss the phrase "initial stages" as just figurative language.
Yet, it could be the crucial aspect of this unusual job advert, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have already been submitted since the unidentified family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted notice in the media, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding first scepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then become established".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told Adam they wished to avoid this pattern to recur with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they want to instil.
Adam explained the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", might the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", answered the CEO. "The family realize this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who express these concerns.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of seven, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of UK identity, a person who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a typically British tutor from babyhood will will not automatically achieve the result they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
