"A family residing in the northern part of London seeks an extraordinary and skilled educator to assist their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily miss the phrase "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the crucial part of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have already been submitted since the anonymous family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained attention across the media, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that in spite of early skepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional character of their request, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," explained Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
However, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", would the child pick up alleged cultural leaning from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The family realize this may not work, 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 cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share those reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been educated understanding and embodying both cultures. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, an individual who can in some way impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"In my experience, engaging a typically UK tutor from infancy will will not necessarily create the result they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
