"Parents based in north London seeks an remarkable and qualified instructor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily overlook the term "initial stages" as mere an expression.
Yet, it may be the most important element of this unique job advert, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been submitted since the anonymous family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received notice in the press, with many asking why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding early skepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unusual character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they wish to instil.
Adam noted the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express those doubts.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter wrote that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing both cultures. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a representation of English culture, a person who can in some way transfer the qualities of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will does not automatically create the outcome they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be taught – and sold.
"I think the situation that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
