"A household located in north London seeks an remarkable and qualified educator to guide their most junior child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as just figurative language.
However, it could be the most significant aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to find a tutor for a infant.
Many of applications have now been received since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted interest throughout the press, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding initial doubt, he found the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid history to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," said the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they aim to cultivate.
He explained the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", might the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "The family realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who express similar reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the time of childhood, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can act as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman to a infant child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will will not instantly create the result they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
