"A household residing in north London is looking for an exceptional and experienced educator to support their most junior child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily miss the phrase "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the crucial element of this unique position posting, as it aims to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have now been submitted since the unidentified family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has attracted interest throughout the media, with numerous questioning why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unusual nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
But what does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed him they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the education at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to impart.
He explained the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or passion in riding, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he said the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who express these doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
The expert noted that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been raised knowing and embodying dual heritages. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from early childhood will does not instantly achieve the goal they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
