"Parents based in north London is looking for an remarkable and experienced tutor to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally miss the phrase "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the most important element of this unique position posting, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have since been sent in since the anonymous family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted attention throughout the press, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that in spite of first scepticism, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the atypical aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid history to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is kind of osmotic," said Adam.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", said he. "The family know this could fail, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who share similar concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing both cultures. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can act as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily achieve the result they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to live several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something the expert thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
