"A household residing in North London is looking for an remarkable and skilled educator to guide their most junior child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most important aspect of this unique job advert, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have already been sent in since the unidentified family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted interest in the media, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of initial doubt, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional character of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to him they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to instil.
Adam explained the tutor had to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child pick up alleged cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", answered he. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who have these doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and living dual heritages. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that a single person can act as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially British tutor from babyhood will not necessarily produce the goal they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, personal identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating