"A household residing in north London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified tutor to support their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally miss the phrase "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most important part of this unique position posting, as it aims to find a mentor for a infant.
Numerous of submissions have since been sent in since the unidentified family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has attracted interest across the media, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, said that in spite of initial skepticism, he found the plan "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then set in".
But what does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", he responded. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is rather osmotic," stated Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be someone who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", would the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", answered he. "The family understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and we should start as early as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who share similar concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter noted that he had moved from China to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and living dual heritages. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow impart the qualities of a British gentleman upon a infant child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically English tutor from infancy will will not necessarily achieve the result they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to experience many of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the fact that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
