"A household residing in North London is looking for an remarkable and experienced tutor to assist their smallest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily skip the phrase "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
But, it may be the crucial part of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have now been received since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted attention in the news, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, said that notwithstanding early scepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to impart.
He explained the tutor must be somebody who studied at "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 suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", answered he. "They know this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who express those doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He noted that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing both cultures. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can function as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can somehow impart the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will will not instantly achieve the goal they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the situation that the world holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
