"A family located in North London seeks an remarkable and experienced tutor to guide their most junior child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily overlook the phrase "initial stages" as mere an expression.
However, it may be the most important part of this unusual position posting, as it aims to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have now been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained attention across the news, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, said that despite initial scepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told Adam they did not want history to recur with their infant.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to instil.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child adopt alleged cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who express these reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow impart the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a typically British tutor from early childhood will does not instantly produce the result they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the world holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
