"A family residing in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and qualified educator to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily overlook the term "beginning" as just an expression.
However, it might be the most significant part of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have already been sent in since the unnamed family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted attention in the news, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that despite early doubt, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then set in".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the development at the outset here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they want to cultivate.
Adam explained the tutor must be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes 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 grow into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", answered he. "They know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who share these doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been raised understanding and living both cultures. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a infant child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, having a typically British tutor from early childhood will does not automatically produce the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something Adam thinks can be taught – and sold.
"I think the fact that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
