"A family residing in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced educator to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily skip the term "initial stages" as just an expression.
Yet, it could be the most important part of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been received since the unnamed family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained interest in the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of first scepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the unusual character of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent history to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the learning at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
He said the tutor had to be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who have similar reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He wrote that he had relocated from China to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been raised experiencing and practicing both cultures. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can function as a representation of English culture, an individual who can in some way impart the attributes of a British gentleman to a infant child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will not necessarily achieve the result they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
