"Parents based in North London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to support their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the term "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this unusual employment listing, as it aims to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have already been received since the unidentified family published their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained attention in the news, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their hunt, stated that despite early scepticism, he considered the plan "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then become established".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they wish to cultivate.
Adam explained the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told him the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", replied he. "They know this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who have similar doubts.
Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from the Far East to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and living two backgrounds. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can possibly transfer the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, appears optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will does not automatically create the result they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
