"A household based in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and qualified instructor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily skip the wording "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
But, it may be the most important element of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of submissions have already been received since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received notice in the press, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
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 found the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they recognized the unusual character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already become established".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed him they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the development at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they aim to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or passion in horse riding, alpine 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 register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "They know this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have similar reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He wrote that he had relocated from China to the UK at the time of seven, and had been raised understanding and embodying both cultures. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can act as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can possibly transfer the qualities of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"In my experience, having a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will does not automatically achieve the result they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
