"A family residing in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and qualified tutor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might easily miss the wording "beginning" as mere a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most significant aspect of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been sent in since the unnamed family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained interest throughout the news, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that in spite of first skepticism, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the unusual aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated 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 point "cultural influence had by then become established".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their infant.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to instil.
He explained the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he comments.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "They know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who express similar concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can act as a representation of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a one-year-old child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the result they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the global community holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
