"A family based in north London seeks an remarkable and skilled tutor to assist their youngest child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily overlook the phrase "initial stages" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the crucial part of this unique job advert, as it aims to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have now been received since the unnamed family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has received attention across the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that despite initial skepticism, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the unusual nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they did not want this pattern to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, skiing, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", would the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he lives with anyway?
"Certainly", said he. "The family know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who share similar reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can act as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will will not automatically produce the goal they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
