"A family based in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and skilled instructor to assist their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally overlook the term "initial stages" as just an expression.
However, it might be the most important element of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to find a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have since been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received notice across the press, with several questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that despite early scepticism, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical character of their demand, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the start here is kind of osmotic," stated the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to impart.
He said the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", would the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and we should start as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who express those concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, an individual who can somehow impart the qualities of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will not instantly create the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, personal identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
