"A family based in north London seeks an remarkable and skilled educator to assist their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally skip the phrase "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the most significant part of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have already been received since the unidentified family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received attention throughout the media, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that despite initial scepticism, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the firstborn had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed him they did not want history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the start here is kind of osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to impart.
Adam said the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he notes.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", would the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who have those doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can function as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can possibly transfer the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will will not automatically produce the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something Adam believes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
