"A family located in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and qualified instructor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily overlook the term "beginning" as just an expression.
However, it could be the most significant aspect of this unique position posting, as it seeks to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have already been submitted since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained attention throughout the press, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that despite early scepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the atypical nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already set in".
But what did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
He said the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
However, in spite of all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the international family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", said he. "The family realize this may not work, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who share those concerns.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He wrote that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing both cultures. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can somehow transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a typically UK tutor from babyhood will does not automatically produce the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been lucky enough to experience several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
