"Parents residing in North London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled instructor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally miss the phrase "initial stages" as just an expression.
Yet, it may be the most important element of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Many of submissions have already been received since the unidentified family published their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the advert has received notice in the news, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding early doubt, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to instil.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who share similar reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the time of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can function as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can somehow transplant the attributes of a British gentleman to a infant child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"In my experience, having a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will will not instantly produce the result they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something the expert believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
