"A family residing in north London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to guide their youngest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most important aspect of this unique employment listing, as it aims to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have now been submitted since the unidentified family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained notice in the news, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that despite initial doubt, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is rather acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they aim to impart.
The consultant said the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family informed Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
But, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the international family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The family know this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who express these reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and practicing both cultures. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will will not instantly achieve the result they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
