"A family residing in north London is looking for an exceptional and experienced educator to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily overlook the term "beginning" as mere figurative language.
However, it may be the crucial part of this unique position posting, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have already been submitted since the unnamed family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained attention throughout the news, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, stated that despite early doubt, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed him they hoped to prevent history to recur with their infant.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to impart.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who share those concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the age of seven, and had been brought up knowing and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can in some way transfer the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily achieve the result they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I think the situation that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
