"Parents located in north London seeks an extraordinary and experienced educator to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily overlook the wording "initial stages" as just an expression.
But, it may be the most significant element of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have now been received since the unnamed family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained attention in the media, with many questioning why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding early scepticism, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the atypical character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already become established".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is kind of osmotic," said Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they wish to impart.
Adam explained the tutor needed to be someone who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in riding, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", would the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the international family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "They understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who have these concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert wrote that he had emigrated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can act as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can in some way impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will will not necessarily produce the goal they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
