"A family based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and qualified tutor to assist their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily overlook the term "initial stages" as mere an expression.
But, it could be the most important part of this unique job advert, as it aims to hire a teacher for a infant.
Numerous of applications have since been sent in since the unnamed family published their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has attracted interest throughout the press, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that despite early skepticism, he found the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they did not want history to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the education at the outset here is kind of osmotic," explained the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they wish to instil.
Adam said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", answered the CEO. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who have these reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can in some way impart the attributes of a English gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a typically British tutor from infancy will will not instantly produce the result they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the situation that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
