"A household based in north London seeks an remarkable and experienced educator to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally miss the wording "beginning" as just an expression.
Yet, it might be the most important aspect of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have already been received since the anonymous family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received notice throughout the press, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, said that in spite of initial doubt, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had by then become established".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their infant.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," explained the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they wish to cultivate.
He said the tutor must be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or interest in riding, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to success and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "They know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'we should try and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who have similar concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing dual heritages. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that one individual can function as a representation of UK identity, a person who can in some way transfer the qualities of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically British tutor from infancy will does not necessarily achieve the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to live several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
