"A family based in north London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to support their youngest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally skip the wording "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
But, it might be the crucial element of this unusual employment listing, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have now been sent in since the unidentified family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted interest across the news, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, explained that in spite of early doubt, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the unusual character of their request, and how immature their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already become established".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they did not want history to recur with their infant.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is rather absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to impart.
The consultant said the tutor must be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
However, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", answered he. "They know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have similar concerns.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing both cultures. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can function as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can in some way transplant the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily create the outcome they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to live many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"In my view the situation that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
