"A family residing in North London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified tutor to assist their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily overlook the wording "initial stages" as simple an expression.
Yet, it could be the most significant aspect of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have now been submitted since the unidentified family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained notice throughout the press, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, said that in spite of first doubt, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told Adam they wished to avoid history to happen again with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the start here is kind of osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The family know this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who express similar concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had moved from China to the UK at the age of seven, and had been raised understanding and embodying both cultures. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can function as a representation of Britishness, someone who can somehow transfer the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a typically UK tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily achieve the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert believes can be educated – and sold.
"I think the fact that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
