"A household based in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and skilled instructor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily skip the wording "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the crucial element of this unique position posting, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of submissions have now been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received notice throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of first doubt, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed him they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to impart.
He said the tutor had to be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in success and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", answered the CEO. "The family know this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who have these reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had moved from China to the Britain at the age of childhood, and had been raised understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, a person who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a typically UK tutor from babyhood will not necessarily produce the goal they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
