"A family located in north London seeks an extraordinary and qualified instructor to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might readily miss the term "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most significant element of this unique job advert, as it attempts to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of submissions have now been sent in since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained attention across the press, with many asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that despite initial doubt, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to him they wished to avoid history to recur with their new baby.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the start here is rather osmotic," said the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they want to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor must be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who share those reservations.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had moved from China to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and living both cultures. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The notion that one individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can possibly impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly English tutor from infancy will will not instantly achieve the result they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to live numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the international society views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
