"A family based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced instructor to assist their smallest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally miss the wording "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the crucial element of this distinctive employment listing, as it seeks to recruit a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of submissions have already been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the advert has attracted interest throughout the media, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their search, said that in spite of first skepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unusual nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", he answered. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their infant.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor must be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", could the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "They realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share similar doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had moved from China to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can function as a representation of English culture, someone who can possibly transplant the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the result they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating