"Parents located in north London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified instructor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally overlook the phrase "initial stages" as simple an expression.
But, it could be the most significant part of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to hire a teacher for a infant.
Many of applications have since been submitted since the unidentified family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the advert has received interest across the media, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that despite first doubt, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family told him they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the learning at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they want to impart.
Adam explained the tutor had to be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family know this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who share those reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
The expert wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a representation of English culture, an individual who can in some way transplant the qualities of a English gentleman to a infant child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will will not instantly create the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something Adam hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I think the fact that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
