"A family based in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily miss the phrase "beginning" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most significant element of this unusual employment listing, as it aims to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have already been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted interest in the press, with many questioning why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, said that in spite of early scepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to impart.
He said the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "The parents know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who express those doubts.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been educated experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a representation of English culture, an individual who can possibly impart the attributes of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will not instantly achieve the result they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to experience several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something Adam believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
