"Parents based in north London seeks an extraordinary and qualified educator to assist their youngest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily skip the term "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the most important element of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have already been sent in since the anonymous family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained notice in the media, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of early skepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they explained 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 stage "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they did not want history to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to instil.
The consultant said the tutor had to be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family informed him the chosen tutor should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with anyway?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have these doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He wrote that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that a single person can act as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a typically British tutor from babyhood will does not automatically produce the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, self-identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and sold.
"I think the reality that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
