"A family residing in north London seeks an extraordinary and qualified tutor to support their youngest child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally miss the term "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the crucial element of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have now been received since the unidentified family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received interest throughout the press, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, said that notwithstanding initial doubt, he considered the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the unconventional nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "English gentleman" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", might the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", answered he. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who express those concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can function as a representation of English culture, someone who can possibly impart the attributes of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"In my experience, having a typically British tutor from early childhood will does not automatically produce the result they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something Adam thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the situation that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
