"A household located in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and qualified educator to support their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily skip the phrase "beginning" as just figurative language.
But, it may be the most significant aspect of this unique job advert, as it seeks to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have since been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained attention in the press, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that despite early doubt, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is rather osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they aim to instil.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will result in success and provide access.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
But, despite all this instruction in "English culture", would the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express those doubts.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had relocated from China to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been educated understanding and living two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, a person who can somehow transfer the qualities of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will will not automatically create the goal they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
