"Parents based in North London is looking for an remarkable and skilled tutor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally skip the phrase "beginning" as simple an expression.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a infant.
Many of submissions have now been submitted since the anonymous family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained notice in the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that in spite of first skepticism, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unusual nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who share similar reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of seven, and had been raised knowing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can function as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can possibly impart the qualities of a English gentleman upon a infant child, appears naive and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will not instantly achieve the outcome they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
