"Parents located in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and experienced instructor to support their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally overlook the wording "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
But, it may be the crucial part of this unique position posting, as it aims to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have now been sent in since the unidentified family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted notice in the media, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding first skepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
However, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they want to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor must be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "The family know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express similar doubts.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from China to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been educated knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can in some way impart the qualities of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily create the goal they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to live many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something the expert believes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
