"A household located in North London seeks an exceptional and experienced tutor to support their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily miss the term "initial stages" as just an expression.
Yet, it might be the crucial aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to hire a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have now been submitted since the anonymous family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted attention throughout the press, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that despite first doubt, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the atypical character of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to him they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to instil.
He explained the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, skiing, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the international family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered he. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have these reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been raised understanding and living both cultures. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that one individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can somehow impart the characteristics of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will not necessarily create the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
