"A household residing in North London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to assist their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most significant element of this unusual employment listing, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have now been sent in since the unnamed family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has attracted interest across the media, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that despite early skepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they understood the unusual character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already taken hold".
But what does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to him they did not want the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they aim to cultivate.
He noted the tutor had to be someone who went to "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 right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in riding, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child pick up alleged cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "They understand this could fail, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the tutoring industry who share those reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He noted that he had moved from China to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been brought up knowing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can act as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a infant child, appears optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will not instantly produce the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to live many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the expert believes can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the international society views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
