"A family residing in North London seeks an extraordinary and skilled tutor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might naturally overlook the wording "beginning" as simple an expression.
But, it may be the crucial aspect of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have already been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted attention throughout the press, with many asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding first doubt, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the start here is somewhat osmotic," said the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will adopt the UK customs they want to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the international family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", replied he. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who express those reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the time of seven, and had been brought up experiencing and living dual heritages. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can act as a embodiment of UK identity, an individual who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, engaging a typically English tutor from infancy will does not necessarily achieve the outcome they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to live many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something the expert believes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
