"A family based in North London wants to find an extraordinary and skilled instructor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally overlook the term "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
However, it could be the most significant element of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have already been received since the unidentified family published their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention in the press, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that despite early doubt, he found the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they understood the unconventional character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already set in".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the development at the outset here is rather osmotic," stated Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety 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 view, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
However, in spite of all this guidance in "Britishness", would the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share these concerns.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that one individual can function as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from early childhood will will not necessarily achieve the outcome they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
