"A household based in north London seeks an exceptional and experienced tutor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily overlook the phrase "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the most significant aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have now been received since the unidentified family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained attention throughout the press, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding early scepticism, he considered the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had by then become established".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family told Adam they wished to avoid history to recur with their infant.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they aim to instil.
The consultant said the tutor must be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – 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 doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will result in success and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", would the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who share those reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been educated experiencing and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a representation of English culture, an individual who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly British tutor from infancy will not instantly create the outcome they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something the expert believes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
