"A family residing in North London is looking for an remarkable and qualified instructor to guide their youngest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might easily skip the phrase "beginning" as just an expression.
However, it might be the most important aspect of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have since been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained notice across the press, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that despite early doubt, he considered the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional character of their request, 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 older child was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they did not want history to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the outset here is rather osmotic," explained Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Money No Object
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child pick up alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "The parents know 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 cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who share similar reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and living dual heritages. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, a person who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will does not instantly create the result they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
