"A family based in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and skilled instructor to support their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the crucial part of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have now been sent in since the anonymous family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has received attention across the media, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that in spite of initial skepticism, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional character of their request, and how young their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they did not want history to happen again with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the start here is somewhat osmotic," stated the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they want to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he adds.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", would the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with anyway?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "The family know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who share those doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, 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 age of seven, and had been educated understanding and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that one individual can serve as a representation of English culture, a person who can in some way impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, employing a typically English tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the outcome they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO believes can be educated – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the world holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
