"Parents residing in north London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally miss the phrase "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most significant part of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have now been sent in since the anonymous family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention in the press, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, said that despite initial skepticism, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the atypical character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed him they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the start here is kind of osmotic," said the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor must be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped 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 minds, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
However, despite all this guidance in "English culture", would the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the international family he is raised by anyway?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who express similar concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been raised experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can function as a representation of English culture, a person who can possibly transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will does not automatically achieve the goal they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be educated – and marketed.
"I believe the situation that the international society holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
