"A family based in the northern part of London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified instructor to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily overlook the phrase "beginning" as simple an expression.
However, it may be the crucial aspect of this unique position posting, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have since been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained attention throughout the media, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of first scepticism, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they want to impart.
Adam explained the tutor needed to be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied he. "The family understand this could fail, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who have these concerns.
An education leader, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert explained that he had moved from China to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been educated experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can function as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a typically UK tutor from early childhood will not necessarily create the result they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
