"Parents residing in north London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled educator to assist their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally overlook the wording "initial stages" as simple an expression.
However, it may be the crucial element of this unique position posting, as it aims to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have since been sent in since the unidentified family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained interest in the news, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that despite first skepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed him they did not want history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is rather absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they want to instil.
He noted the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express similar reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can function as a representation of UK identity, a person who can somehow impart the characteristics of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the result they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
