"A family residing in north London seeks an remarkable and skilled educator to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the wording "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most important aspect of this unique employment listing, as it aims to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have since been submitted since the unnamed family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received interest in the news, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, stated that despite early doubt, he found the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the atypical nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told him they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they aim to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the international family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who share similar concerns.
An education leader, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been educated understanding and living dual heritages. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a typically English tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily achieve the goal they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
