"A household residing in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to assist their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily skip the wording "beginning" as just an expression.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this unusual employment listing, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Many of submissions have now been received since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted notice across the press, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that despite early scepticism, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told him they hoped to prevent history to recur with their younger child.
The strategy: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor had to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", would the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who share these reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He wrote that he had emigrated from China to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been educated knowing and embodying both cultures. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can in some way impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, appears naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily create the result they want.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
