"Parents located in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and qualified educator to assist their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily overlook the term "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most significant part of this unusual position posting, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have already been received since the unnamed family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest in the press, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of first scepticism, he found the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed him they did not want the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope 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 explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the private teaching field who share those doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been educated experiencing and practicing both cultures. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow transfer the qualities of a British gentleman onto a infant child, appears naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, having a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will will not instantly produce the outcome they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to experience numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
