"A family based in north London is looking for an remarkable and qualified educator to guide their most junior child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally miss the phrase "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
But, it may be the most significant aspect of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have since been received since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received interest throughout the press, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, said that despite early scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then set in".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to him they did not want this pattern to recur with their infant.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to cultivate.
He said the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The family know this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who have those reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been brought up understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can function as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can in some way impart the qualities of a English gentleman to a infant child, appears naive and impractical," he stated.
"In my experience, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will does not automatically achieve the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the world holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
