"A family located in North London seeks an remarkable and experienced educator to guide their most junior child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most significant aspect of this unique employment listing, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have since been received since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received notice throughout the press, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding early skepticism, he found the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the atypical character of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid history to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the outset here is rather osmotic," said the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor needed to be someone who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", said he. "They know this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who share these concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the period of seven, and had been brought up experiencing and embodying both cultures. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can act as a representation of UK identity, someone who can possibly impart the qualities of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, having a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will does not automatically achieve the outcome they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
