"A household based in the northern part of London seeks an exceptional and experienced instructor to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might easily skip the wording "initial stages" as just an expression.
But, it might be the most significant aspect of this unique position posting, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have already been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted attention in the press, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that in spite of first scepticism, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had absorbed "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the beginning here is rather osmotic," explained the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they want to cultivate.
He noted the tutor must be someone who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
But, despite all this guidance in "English culture", might the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "They understand this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who share similar doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the period of seven, and had been educated knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can possibly transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a typically British tutor from early childhood will not automatically create the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and however I have been privileged enough to experience several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert believes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the international society holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
