"A family located in North London seeks an exceptional and experienced educator to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might readily skip the term "initial stages" as simple an expression.
But, it could be the most significant element of this unique job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have already been sent in since the anonymous family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted attention in the news, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding early scepticism, he found the concept "visionary", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the unconventional aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the beginning here is rather acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they want to impart.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "The family know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who have those reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from China to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a representation of UK identity, someone who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, appears optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will will not automatically create the goal they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
