"Parents based in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to guide their most junior child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily skip the wording "beginning" as just an expression.
But, it may be the most significant part of this unusual job advert, as it aims to hire a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have now been received since the unnamed family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained notice in the press, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, said that in spite of first doubt, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual character of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to recur with their infant.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they wish to impart.
He noted the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the selected educator should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he lives with anyway?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the private teaching field who express these concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
He explained that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He went on to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can act as a representation of English culture, a person who can somehow impart the attributes of a British gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically English tutor from infancy will will not instantly achieve the result they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something the CEO believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
