"Parents residing in North London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to support their youngest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the phrase "beginning" as mere a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the most important element of this unique position posting, as it aims to find a mentor for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have since been received since the unidentified family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained attention in the press, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding first skepticism, he found the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unusual character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then set in".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their infant.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to instil.
Adam noted the tutor had to be someone who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family informed him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he adds.
However, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", answered he. "They understand this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who express these concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter noted that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and living both cultures. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a representation of English culture, someone who can in some way impart the attributes of a English gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, having a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will will not necessarily produce the goal they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the situation that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
