"A household located in North London wants to find an remarkable and skilled tutor to assist their most junior child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily overlook the wording "beginning" as just figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most important part of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of submissions have since been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received attention across the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that despite early scepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then become established".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is rather osmotic," said the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to cultivate.
He explained the tutor must be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express these doubts.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and embodying dual heritages. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can act as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can somehow impart the qualities of a British gentleman to a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a quintessentially UK tutor from infancy will not automatically produce the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the reality that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
