"Parents based in north London seeks an exceptional and skilled educator to assist their youngest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple 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.
Hundreds of applications have since been received since the anonymous family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained attention across the news, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding initial doubt, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unusual character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," stated the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they aim to instil.
He said the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", answered he. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who have those concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies individual instructors, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and living dual heritages. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can possibly transfer the attributes of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will will not necessarily produce the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
