"A household residing in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and experienced tutor to support their youngest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily overlook the wording "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most significant aspect of this unusual job advert, as it aims to hire a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have already been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted attention throughout the press, with several questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding early skepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to instil.
He noted the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Money No Object
The family told him the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
However, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who express those doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been raised knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can act as a representation of English culture, an individual who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, having a distinctly British tutor from infancy will does not instantly create the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be forced from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, Britishness is something the expert believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
