"A family located in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and experienced instructor to assist their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might easily miss the wording "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
However, it could be the crucial aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have now been sent in since the unnamed family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has attracted interest across the media, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding early skepticism, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the unconventional nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent history to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," said the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to impart.
Adam noted the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have knowledge of or passion in riding, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", could the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who express these doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He noted that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can act as a living vessel of English culture, a person who can in some way impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, strikes me as idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a typically English tutor from infancy will will not automatically achieve the goal they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be educated – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
