"Parents based in north London is looking for an remarkable and experienced instructor to assist their youngest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the term "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the crucial aspect of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have already been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained notice across the press, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he said they appreciated the atypical nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed him they did not want history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to cultivate.
He explained the tutor needed to be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or interest in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes 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 minds, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
But, despite all this instruction in "English culture", could the child pick up alleged cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", answered he. "The family realize this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express those doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
The expert noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been educated experiencing and living dual heritages. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of English culture, a person who can possibly transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially UK tutor from infancy will not instantly create the result they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I think the reality that the world holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
