"A household located in North London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified instructor to assist their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily miss the wording "beginning" as mere an expression.
However, it could be the crucial aspect of this unique position posting, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have now been received since the anonymous family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained attention throughout the media, with many asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their hunt, stated that despite initial skepticism, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the atypical character of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then become established".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had picked up "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to recur with their infant.
The plan: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they wish to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor must be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons 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 view, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Yes", said Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who express these reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from China to the UK at the time of seven, and had been brought up understanding and embodying dual heritages. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that a single person can act as a embodiment of UK identity, an individual who can possibly transfer the qualities of a English gentleman upon a infant child, appears naive and impractical," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a typically British tutor from early childhood will will not automatically create the goal they want.
"I did not have such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
