"A household based in North London seeks an extraordinary and skilled educator to guide their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily overlook the term "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it could be the most significant part of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have already been sent in since the unidentified family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted interest across the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of initial scepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they want to impart.
He explained the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", answered Adam. "They understand this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who have similar concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He explained that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the period of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and living both cultures. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can function as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can somehow impart the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will not necessarily produce the result they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the situation that the global community regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
