"Parents residing in North London seeks an extraordinary and qualified instructor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally miss the term "initial stages" as just figurative language.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this unique job advert, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted interest throughout the press, with many questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that despite early doubt, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the atypical aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then become established".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they did not want this pattern to happen again with their infant.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the outset here is kind of osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to instil.
He said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who express these concerns.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a representation of English culture, an individual who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will does not instantly create the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
