"A household based in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified instructor to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily miss the phrase "beginning" as mere figurative language.
But, it might be the crucial aspect of this unusual employment listing, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have since been received since the unidentified family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained attention across the media, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that in spite of first skepticism, he found the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had by then taken hold".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they aim to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who have similar reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
He wrote that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and living dual heritages. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially English tutor from infancy will does not instantly produce the result they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam believes can be educated – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
