"A household located in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to support their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily miss the term "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it may be the most important element of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to find a teacher for a infant.
Many of applications have since been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest throughout the media, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of initial scepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual character of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already set in".
But what did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent history to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to impart.
The consultant said 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 just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with anyway?
"Yes", answered the CEO. "The family know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the private teaching field who have these doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can act as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can somehow impart the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will not instantly produce the result they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to live numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the situation that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
