"Parents residing in North London seeks an remarkable and skilled instructor to assist their smallest child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the wording "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most significant element of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have already been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained interest across the media, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that despite initial doubt, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to him they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," said the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
He explained the tutor must be an individual who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this instruction in "English culture", might the child adopt alleged cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who have these reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and living both cultures. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can act as a representation of English culture, an individual who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a infant child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from infancy will not necessarily produce the goal they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to live many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
