"A family residing in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and qualified educator to support their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally overlook the phrase "initial stages" as simple an expression.
Yet, it could be the most significant element of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have already been sent in since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the advert has received interest across the press, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding early scepticism, he found the plan "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual character of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told him they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
Adam explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, skiing, creative fields and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The family realize this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have similar concerns.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert noted that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of seven, and had been educated knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can function as a representation of Britishness, an individual who can in some way transfer the attributes of a English gentleman to a infant child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will will not automatically produce the goal they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to live several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
