"Parents residing in North London seeks an remarkable and experienced instructor to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily overlook the phrase "beginning" as just an expression.
But, it may be the most important aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have already been sent in since the unidentified family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received attention in the press, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of initial skepticism, he considered the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the atypical character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family informed him they wished to avoid history to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the development at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," stated the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor must be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
But, despite all this instruction in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Yes", answered Adam. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted 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 a concern," he said.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who share these reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the period of seven, and had been raised understanding and living both cultures. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can function as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me naive and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a typically UK tutor from babyhood will does not instantly produce the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to live several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam believes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
