"Parents residing in north London seeks an extraordinary and experienced instructor to support their most junior child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily overlook the term "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most important aspect of this unique employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have since been sent in since the unidentified family posted their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted interest across the press, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that despite early skepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the unusual nature of their request, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they did not want the same situation to recur with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to instil.
Adam said the tutor must be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "English culture", would the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", said the CEO. "The family know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who have those doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He wrote that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and practicing both cultures. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can act as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can possibly impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will not necessarily achieve the goal they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to live numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
