"Parents located in north London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced tutor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
But, it may be the crucial element of this unique job advert, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been sent in since the anonymous family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the advert has attracted attention in the press, with several questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, stated that notwithstanding early skepticism, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the atypical character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the firstborn had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed him they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they want to instil.
Adam noted the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to success and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied he. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express those doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing both cultures. He went on to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The concept that an individual can serve as a representation of English culture, someone who can somehow transplant the attributes of a British gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears naive and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from babyhood will does not automatically produce the result they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
