"A household residing in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and skilled instructor to guide their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the crucial aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been received since the anonymous family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has received attention throughout the news, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that despite initial doubt, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the atypical nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they want to impart.
Adam explained the tutor had to be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
But, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child pick up alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", answered he. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the education sector who express these doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been raised knowing and embodying dual heritages. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can function as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can possibly impart the qualities of a English gentleman to a infant child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from infancy will does not automatically achieve the goal they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live many of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
