"Parents residing in North London wants to find an remarkable and skilled tutor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily miss the phrase "initial stages" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the most significant aspect of this unique position posting, as it attempts to find a mentor for a infant.
Many of applications have since been received since the anonymous family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted interest across the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding initial doubt, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the atypical aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed him they wished to avoid history to recur with their younger child.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they want to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Yes", replied Adam. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who express these concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had moved from China to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can serve as a representation of Britishness, someone who can in some way transfer the qualities of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, having a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will will not instantly achieve the result they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, UK identity is something the expert believes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the situation that the global community holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
