"A household located in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and skilled tutor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily skip the phrase "beginning" as mere an expression.
Yet, it could be the crucial aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have since been sent in since the unidentified family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted attention in the media, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that despite first skepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated 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 age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they did not want this pattern to recur with their infant.
The plan: To engage a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is rather acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they wish to instil.
Adam said the tutor must be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", could the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the international family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The family know this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who have these reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can in some way transplant the attributes of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from infancy will will not instantly create the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the global community regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
