"A household based in north London wants to find an exceptional and qualified instructor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally miss the term "beginning" as simple an expression.
However, it might be the most significant aspect of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have now been sent in since the anonymous family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has received interest across the media, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, said that in spite of initial skepticism, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
But what does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The strategy: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they aim to cultivate.
Adam noted the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
However, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "The family realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who share similar reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
He explained that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been raised experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.
"The notion that one individual can function as a representation of Britishness, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a British gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will not necessarily achieve the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
