"Parents based in the northern part of London seeks an exceptional and skilled tutor to support their youngest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily skip the term "beginning" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the most significant element of this unique position posting, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a infant.
Numerous of applications have since been received since the anonymous family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained attention across the media, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed him they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they want to impart.
He explained the tutor needed to be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "Britishness", would the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "They understand this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who share similar reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and living both cultures. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that a single person can act as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can in some way transfer the qualities of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will will not instantly achieve the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
