"A household based in the northern part of London seeks an extraordinary and qualified tutor to support their most junior child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally overlook the wording "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
However, it may be the crucial element of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have since been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention across the news, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of initial scepticism, he found the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the unusual nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then become established".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family informed him they did not want history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the start here is rather osmotic," stated Adam.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to impart.
Adam explained the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with anyway?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who share those concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been raised experiencing and embodying both cultures. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can function as a living vessel of Britishness, an individual who can in some way impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, seems to me naive and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from babyhood will will not instantly produce the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam believes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
