"Parents residing in north London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced instructor to support their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily overlook the term "beginning" as mere a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most significant part of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have already been sent in since the unidentified family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained notice in the media, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that despite initial doubt, he considered the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", he answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to him they wished to avoid this pattern to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
Adam noted the tutor had to be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "English culture", might the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The family realize this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have those reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been brought up experiencing and embodying both cultures. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that one individual can function as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can possibly transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a one-year-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a typically English tutor from infancy will will not necessarily achieve the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
