"A household located in north London seeks an extraordinary and experienced tutor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might easily overlook the wording "initial stages" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the most important aspect of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have already been received since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention throughout the press, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding initial doubt, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then become established".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told Adam they did not want this pattern to recur with their infant.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor must be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told him the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in horse riding, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", would the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "The family know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who have these concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been raised understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that a single person can act as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can somehow impart the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a infant child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly British tutor from infancy will does not automatically achieve the goal they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the situation that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
