"A family based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified tutor to assist their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally skip the wording "initial stages" as just figurative language.
But, it may be the most important element of this distinctive employment listing, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have now been sent in since the unnamed family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has received interest in the media, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that in spite of early doubt, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the atypical aspect of their request, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to impart.
Adam said the tutor had to be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child absorb alleged cultural leaning from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", said he. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who have those reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been educated knowing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can function as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can in some way impart the qualities of a British gentleman onto a infant child, appears optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will will not instantly create the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO believes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the situation that the world holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
