"Parents located in north London is looking for an exceptional and experienced instructor to support their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the term "initial stages" as just figurative language.
But, it could be the most important element of this unique job advert, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have already been submitted since the unnamed family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received interest throughout the news, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that despite first doubt, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then become established".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they want to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have similar reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies individual instructors, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
The expert noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and living two backgrounds. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can act as a representation of English culture, an individual who can possibly impart the attributes of a English gentleman onto a infant child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically British tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something Adam thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
