"A family based in north London wants to find an remarkable and skilled instructor to guide their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "beginning" as mere figurative language.
However, it could be the most important element of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have since been received since the unnamed family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted interest in the press, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, stated that in spite of first doubt, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual character of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the older sibling had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the outset here is kind of osmotic," stated the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to impart.
Adam noted the tutor needed to be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family informed him the selected educator should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "They understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who have similar reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the age of childhood, and had been raised knowing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can function as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can somehow impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a typically British tutor from infancy will not automatically achieve the outcome they want.
"I did not have such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the situation that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
