"A family located in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and qualified educator to assist their smallest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the term "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most important part of this unique position posting, as it attempts to find a teacher for a infant.
Numerous of responses have since been received since the unidentified family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted notice in the media, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding early scepticism, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he said they understood the atypical aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already set in".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they did not want history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to cultivate.
Adam noted the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family told him the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to success and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who express similar doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had relocated from China to the UK at the time of childhood, and had been educated understanding and living two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that an individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially UK tutor from infancy will does not instantly create the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to experience several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
