"A family based in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and qualified instructor to support their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as just an expression.
Yet, it might be the most important element of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have now been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained interest in the media, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of first doubt, he considered the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional character of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told him they did not want history to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The parents know this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who share those doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can act as a representation of Britishness, an individual who can somehow impart the qualities of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a typically UK tutor from early childhood will not automatically create the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to live many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, self-identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something Adam thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
