"A household based in north London seeks an exceptional and experienced instructor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might easily miss the term "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it might be the crucial element of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to find a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have already been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has received interest throughout the news, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding initial doubt, he considered the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already become established".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they aim to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The family understand this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who have those concerns.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had emigrated from China to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can function as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can in some way impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will does not automatically achieve the goal they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
