"Parents located in north London is looking for an exceptional and experienced instructor to support their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily skip the wording "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the crucial part of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a infant.
Numerous of responses have already been sent in since the anonymous family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained interest in the media, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, said that in spite of early skepticism, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "How you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed him they wished to avoid history to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
He explained the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who have these reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can function as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can in some way transplant the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a typically English tutor from infancy will does not automatically produce the goal they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert believes can be educated – and sold.
"I think the fact that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
