"A family residing in north London is looking for an exceptional and qualified tutor to assist their youngest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily overlook the term "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
However, it could be the crucial aspect of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have now been submitted since the unidentified family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received attention throughout the media, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that in spite of first doubt, he found the plan "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he said they understood the unusual aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained 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 point "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to him they did not want history to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," said Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they aim to cultivate.
Adam noted the tutor must be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", replied he. "They realize this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who share similar reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He explained that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the time of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can act as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a typically British tutor from infancy will does not necessarily produce the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
