"A family based in north London seeks an remarkable and experienced instructor to support their youngest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might easily overlook the term "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the crucial aspect of this unusual employment listing, as it seeks to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have already been received since the unnamed family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the listing has received notice throughout the media, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of initial scepticism, he considered the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the atypical nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to instil.
Adam said the tutor must be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", would the child adopt alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", said he. "They know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express similar reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
He explained that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and embodying dual heritages. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can function as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can in some way transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from infancy will does not necessarily achieve the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
