"A family located in north London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might naturally overlook the wording "initial stages" as simple an expression.
But, it may be the crucial aspect of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have since been received since the unidentified family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has attracted notice throughout the press, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, said that in spite of first scepticism, he found the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will pick up the UK customs they want to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor must be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in horse riding, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who express those concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the age of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and embodying both cultures. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can function as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will not necessarily achieve the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
