"Parents based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified instructor to support their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily overlook the wording "beginning" as simple figurative language.
However, it may be the most important aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it attempts to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have since been sent in since the unidentified family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained attention throughout the media, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that despite initial skepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed him they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the development at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to impart.
The consultant said the tutor had to be someone who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told him the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
Yet, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who share those reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the age of seven, and had been educated understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of English culture, someone who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and impractical," he stated.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
