"A family based in North London seeks an extraordinary and experienced instructor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily overlook the term "beginning" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most significant part of this unusual position posting, as it aims to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have now been received since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received attention throughout the press, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that despite first doubt, he considered the concept "visionary", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the unconventional character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to instil.
Adam said the tutor had to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "They understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who express similar reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and practicing dual heritages. He went on to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can in some way transplant the qualities of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will not necessarily achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
