"Parents residing in north London seeks an extraordinary and experienced instructor to assist their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally miss the term "beginning" as mere an expression.
However, it may be the most important part of this unique job advert, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been submitted since the anonymous family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the advert has attracted attention across the news, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, said that in spite of early skepticism, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the atypical aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then become established".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the education at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
Adam noted the tutor had to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – 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 doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "They know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who express similar concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and living dual heritages. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can somehow impart the attributes of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly English tutor from infancy will not instantly achieve the result they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
