"A household located in north London seeks an extraordinary and skilled tutor to guide their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might readily overlook the phrase "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it may be the crucial aspect of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Many of submissions have already been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received interest throughout the media, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that despite initial scepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay 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 did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they did not want the same situation to recur with their infant.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the start here is somewhat osmotic," stated the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they want to impart.
Adam explained the tutor needed to be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", replied he. "The family realize this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share similar concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the time of seven, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from infancy will not automatically create the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the situation that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
