"Parents residing in north London seeks an remarkable and experienced tutor to guide their youngest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most significant element of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have already been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the advert has received attention in the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that despite first scepticism, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unusual nature of their request, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the development at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to impart.
He explained the tutor must be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he adds.
However, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "The parents know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who have similar doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He wrote that he had relocated from China to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing dual heritages. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, an individual who can possibly transplant the attributes of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially UK tutor from infancy will will not instantly create the outcome they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the fact that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
