"Parents residing in North London is looking for an remarkable and qualified tutor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might readily miss the wording "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the crucial element of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have already been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted notice in the press, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that despite first skepticism, he found the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed Adam the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", said Adam. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who express those concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He wrote that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can act as a representation of English culture, a person who can possibly transplant the attributes of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will does not instantly create the goal they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be educated – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
