"A family residing in North London seeks an extraordinary and experienced instructor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily overlook the wording "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have now been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained notice across the news, with many asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that despite first doubt, he considered the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the learning at the start here is rather osmotic," explained the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor must be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", said he. "The family know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who express similar doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, someone who can somehow transfer the qualities of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will will not instantly produce the goal they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, cultural identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
