"A household residing in North London is looking for an exceptional and experienced educator to assist their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily overlook the term "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the crucial aspect of this unique position posting, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a infant.
Numerous of submissions have since been submitted since the unnamed family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained notice across the news, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that despite early skepticism, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they want to impart.
He noted the tutor needed to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the selected educator should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this instruction in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude 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 stated.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who share these reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying both cultures. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can act as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can possibly transplant the attributes of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly English tutor from infancy will will not automatically achieve the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO believes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
