"A household based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled tutor to guide their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily overlook the wording "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the crucial part of this unique job advert, as it aims to hire a tutor for a infant.
Many of applications have now been received since the unnamed family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received notice throughout the news, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the atypical nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the start 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 wish to cultivate.
He said the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan 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, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
But, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have those concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and living dual heritages. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can function as a representation of Britishness, someone who can possibly transplant the qualities of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from babyhood will will not automatically achieve the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to experience many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the fact that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
