"A family located in north London seeks an remarkable and experienced tutor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally skip the phrase "beginning" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the most important aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it attempts to find a mentor for a infant.
Numerous of submissions have now been sent in since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted notice across the press, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding early scepticism, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unusual character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told him they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the outset here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they aim to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire 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, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the selected educator should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child absorb alleged cultural leaning from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who share similar doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the age of seven, and had been educated understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, having a typically English tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily create the result they want.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert believes can be taught – and commercialized.
"In my view the situation that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
