"A family located in north London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might naturally skip the wording "beginning" as just figurative language.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have already been received since the unidentified family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained interest in the news, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding first scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
However, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their infant.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the education at the start here is rather osmotic," said Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to cultivate.
He said the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will result in success and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "English culture", would the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", said he. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who share those reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been raised experiencing and living both cultures. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, a person who can possibly impart the attributes of a English gentleman upon a one-year-old child, appears naive and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will does not instantly achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
