"A household located in north London wants to find an remarkable and qualified educator to support their youngest child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might easily miss the phrase "initial stages" as just figurative language.
But, it could be the crucial part of this distinctive employment listing, as it seeks to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have since been received since the unnamed family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained interest throughout the media, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that despite initial scepticism, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional character of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they wish to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor must be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "English gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he adds.
However, in spite of all this guidance in "Britishness", would the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who have similar concerns.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the period of seven, and had been brought up knowing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will not instantly produce the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
