"A family based in North London is looking for an remarkable and experienced tutor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally miss the term "initial stages" as just figurative language.
But, it might be the most significant element of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have since been submitted since the unnamed family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted interest throughout the news, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that despite early scepticism, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the atypical nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already set in".
But what did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family explained to him they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they wish to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor must be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to Adam the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "The family realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who have those reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert explained that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been educated understanding and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that a single person can function as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can in some way impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will will not instantly achieve the result they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something the CEO believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
