"A household based in North London wants to find an remarkable and skilled educator to guide their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the phrase "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the most important part of this unusual employment listing, as it aims to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have now been sent in since the unidentified family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received interest throughout the news, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the atypical nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family told Adam they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to instil.
He said the tutor had to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in riding, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who have those concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and practicing both cultures. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can somehow impart the qualities of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, appears naive and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will does not instantly create the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to live several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
