"A family residing in north London is looking for an remarkable and experienced instructor to support their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as just figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most important aspect of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a infant.
Many of responses have already been received since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received notice in the media, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that despite first doubt, he considered the idea "visionary", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional character of their request, and how young their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child adopt alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", answered he. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who share those reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
The expert explained that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been educated understanding and living two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can act as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will will not automatically create the goal they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the world holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
