"A household based in North London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled instructor to assist their most junior child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally skip the wording "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
But, it might be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have since been sent in since the unnamed family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received attention in the press, with many asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had by then become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed him they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat osmotic," said the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they want to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor had to be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", would the child absorb alleged cultural leaning from the multicultural family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who have these doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who supplies individual instructors, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can function as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can in some way transplant the attributes of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience several of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam believes can be educated – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
