"A family residing in north London seeks an extraordinary and skilled educator to support their youngest child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally overlook the wording "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most important aspect of this unique employment listing, as it aims to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been sent in since the unidentified family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received notice in the news, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that in spite of early scepticism, he considered the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual character of their requirement, and how young their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told him the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and open doors.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and we should start as early as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express these doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, a person who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears naive and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will does not automatically produce the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
