"A family located in North London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified educator to support their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally skip the term "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the crucial element of this unusual employment listing, as it attempts to find a mentor for a infant.
Numerous of applications have since been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention across the news, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of early scepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their infant.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they want to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Certainly", said he. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who express these concerns.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, stated that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and living both cultures. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can function as a living vessel of Britishness, an individual who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from infancy will not instantly achieve the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
