"A household residing in north London wants to find an exceptional and skilled instructor to guide their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally overlook the wording "beginning" as simple figurative language.
However, it could be the most important element of this unique position posting, as it aims to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of submissions have since been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted notice throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that despite first scepticism, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then set in".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent history to recur with their infant.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," stated the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they want to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
However, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who share these doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the period of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can act as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can in some way impart the attributes of a British gentleman onto a infant child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"In my experience, having a typically English tutor from babyhood will will not automatically achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to live many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the world holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
