"A household based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally miss the term "beginning" as just figurative language.
But, it may be the crucial aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it attempts to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have now been submitted since the unnamed family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention across the news, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that despite initial doubt, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then set in".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they want to instil.
Adam explained the tutor must be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in riding, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child adopt so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Yes", answered the CEO. "The parents know this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who express similar concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
He noted that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been raised experiencing and practicing both cultures. He went on to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can function as a representation of English culture, someone who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically UK tutor from infancy will not instantly create the goal they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the situation that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
