"Parents located in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified tutor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the term "beginning" as just a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the most important aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to find a tutor for a infant.
Numerous of responses have now been sent in since the anonymous family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted interest in the news, with several questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that in spite of early scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they understood the atypical aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
But what did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid history to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they want to impart.
The consultant said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in riding, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "The parents understand this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express those reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He wrote that he had moved from China to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and living dual heritages. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can function as a representation of English culture, a person who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a typically UK tutor from babyhood will not automatically achieve the goal they want.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the world holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
