"A family residing in north London seeks an exceptional and skilled educator to support their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily overlook the wording "initial stages" as just an expression.
Yet, it could be the most significant part of this unique position posting, as it aims to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have since been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained notice in the news, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that notwithstanding early skepticism, he found the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unusual character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they did not want the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a British 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 somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they want to cultivate.
Adam explained the tutor had to be someone who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and provide access.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he notes.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the international family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "They realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who share those doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had moved from China to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and practicing both cultures. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a representation of Britishness, someone who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly English tutor from infancy will not instantly achieve the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to experience many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, English culture is something the expert thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I think the fact that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
