"A family based in North London seeks an remarkable and qualified instructor to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily skip the term "beginning" as simple an expression.
But, it may be the most important part of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have already been received since the unidentified family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received interest throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of early scepticism, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical character of their request, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told Adam they did not want history to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the outset here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to impart.
The consultant said the tutor had to be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or passion in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about success and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", said the CEO. "They know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who express those reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies individual instructors, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the age of childhood, and had been educated understanding and embodying both cultures. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can somehow impart the qualities of a English gentleman onto a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a typically British tutor from early childhood will not instantly produce the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert hopes can be taught – and commercialized.
"In my view the fact that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
