"A family residing in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified tutor to guide their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily overlook the term "beginning" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the most important element of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to find a mentor for a infant.
Many of responses have since been received since the unnamed family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the post has received attention in the press, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, explained that in spite of first scepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," explained Adam.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "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 commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in success and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
However, despite all this guidance in "English culture", could the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who have similar concerns.
An education leader, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that a single person can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can in some way impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a typically British tutor from babyhood will not necessarily create the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
